Coach Madness

I never realized just how much money some people are willing to spend.

I went to a Coach outlet today, and I was simply amazed at the prices of some of the purses and wallets there. It was unbelievable! And this was an outlet, so these prices were actually lower in comparison to the normal retail stores.


I also couldn't believe how insanely crowded it was. Seriously, as soon as I walked in there, I felt like I had entered a wilderness cave full of hungry, roaring beasts ready to attack. OK, so that's a rather extreme way to describe a bunch of women on a shopping frenzy, but, still, it was a sight to see.

I saw signs saying 50 percent off and 30 percent off certain items, so I immediately went to the sales areas. The original prices made me blink! Who would pay that much for a handbag??! Well, apparently a lot of people would. And they were doing it all around me.

One thing that really struck me was that some of the wallets were more expensive than a lot of the handbags. I pointed this out to one of the salesladies, and she told me it was so worth it. After all, they are specially made and guaranteed the last longer than a lifetime. Sorry, lady: nothing on this earth is going to last that long. Not even a little clutch made by Coach himself (I'm really not sure this is named after an actual coach...in fact, I highly doubt it. Clearly I have not done my research on this particular brand).

I had gone into this store to find a new purse for my mom. She never treats herself to anything frivolous, and she is in desperate need for a new purse. In fact, my dad told me that just the other day she was just complaining about how crummy hers is. My mom deserves so much more than a silly old Coach purse, but I figured it's the best I could do.

Oddly enough, I found a pretty good deal for her. I walked out of there with a perfect purse for my mom, and I had paid way less than the original price. The tag said the normal retail price was $300. This outlet store had charged $209, but, with the 50 percent discount, it only cost me $113 something with tax. (I say only very lightly.) I was only willing to pay that much money because it was for my mom. I would do anything for any of my family members, and it's not like my mom would ever expect anything so pricey. In fact, being the incredible woman that she is, she would be satisfied with a homemade gingerbread house or Popsicle-stick picture frame (both of which have already been given to her). But I decided that, after all she has done and sacrificed for me in my 24 years, she could use a little something to make her feel extra classy. (She doesn't need a purse for that, though. I mean it when I say that this woman is in a class of her own that surpasses any raging wild beast in the Coach Cave...and I don't mean to offend anyone who owns anything Coach-related. I just really love my mom and think no one compares to her.)

So, yes, my pockets were emptied today, and my eyes were opened even further to the greed and unnecessary spending that befall Americans daily. And, yes, I became victim to them, as well. But at least I will get to see the look on my mom's face as she opens her gift and is shocked and happy at the same time. And that will be a more beautiful sight than anything Coach could ever put on a shelf.

I Want to Follow the Way of the Zebra

I found out Sunday that Zebras are extremely smart.

Our sermon in church talked about how wildebeests often go on their wild stampedes, and the leader of the pack doesn't always make the best of decisions. Because they are not very smart animals in their nature, the wildebeests all follow the leader wherever he goes—even if it's straight off a cliff!

Zebras, on the other hand, have intelligence. They can even walk just 20 minutes after they are born! The lead male of the herd usually stays in the back of the pack when these nomadic creatures are roaming so that he can protect the others, if necessary, from predators. The females and youngsters will flee from the danger during this time. These leaders protect those under them and would never lead their followers into danger—or off cliffs.

Zebras also have great hearing and eyesight and can even see well at night—comparable to that of a cat or an owl. And their stripes are like that of human fingerprints—each unique in its own pattern.

After soaking in all of this information, it didn't take me too long to decide that I would much rather be a zebra and follow other zebras than live the life of a wildebeest.

I mean, who would really want to be a "wild beast," anyway? For starters, there is that drastic appearance: uncommonly large head, overly shaggy mane, pointed beard and hideous horns atop that disaster of a facade.

No, I would much rather be a Zebra.

I learned that I also want to follow the Zebras. I don't want to live my life like all of the wildebeests who chase things that don't matter and end up running themselves off the edges of cliffs. There are too many temptations and struggles in this life, and I don't want mine to take that turn. It makes more sense to follow the Zebra.

A Zebra knows what it means to be a leader; Zebras know what it means to stand out for something—or for someone. After all, you can't have all of those stripes and think you are going to blend in with the crowd.

But the cool thing about those stripes is that they serve as protection against the enemy. When a large herd of Zebras is together, it is quite the challenge for lions and other predatory animals to distinguish which one to chase. They all kind of blend together to form a blobbish figure. So, taking this on an analytical note, that's how we can be as Christians. If we all act as Zebras and come together as one body in Christ, it will be much harder for the Enemy to overpower us. We will become one giant blobbish figure for Jesus, and it will be beautiful.

I want to follow the Zebra. I want to be the Zebra. The Zebra cannot be the Lord, but it sure can lead others to Him.

When the stampede begins, make sure you aren't running with those heinous wildebeests to the edge of the cliffs. Instead, go with the stripes—they will lead you to the Kingdom.

This is the Real World

I miss writing so much.

Writing is one of my greatest passions, and I just haven't been able to find time to do much of it lately. I am still trying to find that balance as a first-year teacher between my job and the rest of my life. I'm not going to lie: it's been a huge challenge. I used to write as much as I could in my spare time. Now all I want to do is sleep with every spare minute I can find.

I wrote a novel and finished the whole thing over the summer. I even met with a publisher about getting it out into this world. The only problem (besides the fact that I have absolutely no spare money to make it happen) is that I don't have the time even to re-proof it.

It's really weird being a "grown up." When I was younger, I never thought it would happen. I kind of felt like it was one of those things that you knew was there but would never actually happen to you—kind of like winning the lottery. But I don't feel like I've won anything at all. Sure, I have a lot more freedoms than I once did, but I also feel like there are so many more restrictions. This morning, as I was driving to work, I saw a kid in the back of a Tahoe watching a movie. We never actually had those privileges when I was in the backseat, but I still remember what it felt like to have absolutely no worries whatsoever. I just got to ride in the backseat and think about nothing but how badly I wanted to score a goal in my next rec league soccer game. Or how unfair it was that my brother got the front seat and I was stuck in the back. Man, I really missed those days as I thought about how I was now not only in the front seat but driving the dang vehicle.

But is it really so bad being in the driver's seat?

I guess I'm just not completely ready for all of this. There are just so many things that come with being an adult that I don't want to handle just yet. I suppose I don't have a choice, though. Growing up happens so fast, whether we want it or not. One comfort I do find is that I really can sit back and relax in the backseat and let the ultimate Driver take the wheel.

I may not get to write as much as I like anymore, but at least I know that a new page is being written in my life every day.