I finished about half of the to-do items on the list. Not too bad.

One of those items was going to the ultra-fancy suburban mall to pick up my re-strung pearl bracelet. I love going to Tiffany & Co. I love greeting the security man at the door..although the security guy at this store looked like someone even *I* could take in a fight. The security guy at the store in Vegas looked like a former NFL player. But.. I digress.

I love looking at jewelry that costs more than both of our houses combined. I marvel at sunglasses that cost 2 months' worth of my salary. Going there is kind of a big deal. However. There were people there for whom going is NOT a big deal. It's an every day occurrence, and I get the feeling that they don't appreciate it as much as I do. To wit:

A young lady (mid-twenties, maybe?) and her harried-looking mother were at one of the counters. She was alternately gasping and giggling, then highly unimpressed. The salesperson asked her how she could help, and giggly-girl said "I'm getting MARRIED soon and I'm here to pick out gifts for my attendants! *giggle*" The salesperson gushed about how marvelous that was, and congratulations, and so on and so on. She asked how much giggly-girl wanted to spend on the gifts. Giggles looked at her mother, and harried-mother sighed. "No more than $1500 each. After all, there are nine of them."

Now, I'm no math-whiz.. but at that moment I turned into the Rainman. $13,500 on bridesmaids' gifts? Whoa.

I wanted to wander over to her and offer to be in her wedding. Perhaps she needed a personal attendant, or a guestbook pen-holder? Well, but that would have been just weird, I suppose.

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Dear Whoever Would Be My Attendants:

In an effort to correctly set your expectations, you will most likely *not* receive a $1500 trinket from Tiffany & Co. I will probably just knit you some gloves or something.

Frugally Yours, chele.