We were two new Mothers with the babies, but we are not new enough to know that the babies eat first. We opened the boobie bar first and let them eat. With all of the new adventures in breastfeeding, we saw the different techniques and compared notes. Since we are three weeks ahead, we have moved to shorter feedings with bigger gaps in between "meals." This offered hope to Colleen who is in the two week doldrums.
This past weekend, we made our first road trip to Iowa City and then on to Chicago for the baby welcoming party. We saw lots of family, and had the important generational photo shoots. Sunday afternoon we were back in Iowa City for introducing the Prince to the Eastern Iowa grandparents and having another generational photo shoot, this time including husband's grandparents.
Tuesday evening we had the unfortunate responsibility of buying a new dishwasher. We spent $106 to have someone tell us that we needed a new one, but we were trying to be...responsible? Typically, we buy our appliances at SEARS even though it is in the scary part of town. Since I am an import to this fair city, I feel that the East side is more frightening than the West side. This trip proved to support my feelings.
In the deserted parking lot, we parked, and loaded the Prince into his chariot, snuggling him in for this trip of gathering a new dishwasher. We walked right into the appliances section of the store, and since we were the only customers at 7pm we had no problems finding a sales associate to help us. Catherine was about 6'2" with dyed blond hair, and peeling fingernail polish about the color of a papaya. She had a residue of cigarette smoke surrounding her, but asked our names and shook our hands to make us feel welcome. If puppies are the number one conversation starter, babies are a close second. She commented on our beautiful Prince, and told us that she had seven children. I was hoping that she started her family when she was 18 or so, and was not supporting a family of seven on her sales at this ghost town department store.
She told us about most of the features on each model, and we moved from Kenmore to Whirlpool then Maytag, opening and closing everything and checking out the inside baskets. Husband didn't like the silverware basket as a cluster in the middle, but she helped us realize that the baskets split up to ride along the sides. Catherine kept trying to divert our attention from shopping by commenting on my necklace, and then my postpartum figure. She talked about lasagna baked on a pan and how the SEARS Kenmore top model would blast the baked on noodles right off of the pan with no soaking or prewash. Husband was out of character, and ignored every comment she made. He listened to me, and read the labels, and made his decision. He was sold on the Maytag stainless steel inside and outside, digital front, and energy efficient model. I told Husband to work out the paperwork with Catherine while I was looking at stoves for our upgrade this summer. When I found what would be perfect, I looked to the corner of the appliances section to see that they were still walking through checkout. Husband's posture looked like he was very uncomfortable, but still being very patient.
Catherine was having difficulty ringing through the purchase. She couldn't get the sales tax removed, and when an appliance is installed there no sales tax applied. She called for help to a sales associate with sunken eyes and transparent skin. He didn't say a word, but came to the register and pushed some buttons. We were close to leaving. She printed out all of our receipts, and was pushing hard for the appliance insurance for one year but we would not budge. On our way out, I took Husband past the stove that I would love as our replacement, but as we were examining the features and price we heard our first names being called from the dishwasher section. Catherine was motioning to us with her arms flapping like a circus barker to come back to her section. We looked at each other, and then behind us to make sure she was summoning us back to her. She was. We should have made our way right to the car.
As we approached her, she said I found a way for you to save more money! There is a mail in rebate and a portrait for the baby! Now aren't you glad I want to save you money? Well yes, we like to save money, of course! She explained the mail in rebate to us, reading the directions. We said thank you and waited for her explanation of the free portrait of the baby as well. She put her hands on our backs leading accompanying us to the door as we expressed our thanks to her for helping us save $35 and a free portrait of the Prince. She said that SEARS will call us with a survey about her performance, and it would be great if we said that she really helped us save money. I assured her, Catherine I will tell them that you were great and you need a promotion. She started to laugh, and then gave me a hug. I froze and reached for the stroller so I couldn't put my arms around her in reciprocation. She was still laughing and said again, You look great, and no one would ever know that you just had a baby.
We left the store in silence, almost getting trapped with the stroller in the two sets of doors and a family of Hispanics barreling down our backs. Whenever we went to an odd place or had to be around people who were very different, most of the time with odd food or body odors, Momma always told us that we were in a "cultural experience." Translated, we were experiencing something not normal, but it would put hair on our chests.
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