11 43 pm pst   [ clips ]

Matthew was upset that friend of his found some playmates to entertain him when his date didn't show up for a romantic weekend in Vegas. "He should have been sad that she didn't show up," Matthew explained.

"Why do you want people to be unhappy?" I asked.

"I don't want them to be replacable. You look at things backwards."

We do. We see things from opposite sides all the time. But we know how to take care of each other.

* * *

He wanted soap. He wanted soap from The Body Shop and I believe we all should have what we want. So we drove to BFE to visit the nearest Body Shop. We had a second errand too. The night before I had broken one of the hair clips in my only pair.

This is no great tradgedy, but if Matthew was going to get soap I was going to get some new clips.

"Keep your eyes open for an accessory store," I reminded him when we entered the mall. He, of course, spotted one right away.

I don't think they had these stores when I was little. They are a haven for girls. Endless rows of headbands and earings fill the eye. I got excited while perusing the clips. "I'm twelve!"

I am spoiled. I buy food at the store without looking at hwat it costs. I get myself books that interest me and ever few months I purchase a new article of clothing. But I am also responsible. I never spend money I don't have. I never have a balance on my credit cards. You can be reckless and responsible.

"Can I really buy twenty clips?" It was meant as a rhetorical question. I was having the hardest time deciding between the apples and the clunky metallic ones. Matthew liked the small blue flowers.

"You wear them ever day." He gave me permission to splurge. I really felt like I was twelve and out with my grandfather who always would let me buy whatever I wanted on my birthday.

And don't you know that when we got to the body shop I decided I need a new brush too...

This month's collab topic for Writing in the Sand is: Why do I contribute to collabs? ...to this collab?

I like the challenge. I like being pointed in new directions. I write them even if they don't interest me, just to know that I did it. I like to do things -- I mean a lot of things -- because I really don't think any of it will hurt me and it may help me grow. I'm writing this specific collab because I haven't missed a Writing in the Sand prompt since it started and I like making records for myself.

This month's collab topic for Connected Recollections is: Once upon a time...

Once upon a time I had a very nice grandfather who came to visit in California from New York at least twice a year and who spoiled me rotten. He still spoils me. He even let me live with him for several months. And I am very excited to be attending his 85th birthday next month.

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