Yesterday I went shopping with my mother.  Yes, she is in America and I am in France, but we both went to one of our favorite stores together — Sundance.  She had a paper catalog, and I, the same catalog, only digital. We connected through the phone lines and began our walk through the store. She led me through each page, stopping at what she liked, what she loved, what she marked with a sticky note. What she saw herself in, me in… We created outfits, ensembles, even created the places we would go in them and it was glorious. 

Through the years we have dressed up to go to the mall – yes, of course, we tried to look our best in the attempt to look better. We South-daled, Ridge-daled, and Galleria-ed with the best of them. Sometimes we bought something, because it was a must-have – but the majority of the time, we just enjoyed the experience. Coffee before, wine after. Some twirling in between. 

Some might say, oh, shopping isn’t for me, and that’s fine, but this is about more than that. This was and continues to be about knowing a person, sharing ideas, and laughter and joy. And this can’t be taken away by a pandemic. Can’t be dismissed by miles. This is love.

Yesterday my friend went to the actual Sundance store in Galleria and bought a dress. A lovely dress. But she made the disclaimer, I don’t really have anywhere to go. And yes, theatres, restaurants, so many things are closed, but the world is still open. For Easter this year, in our own home, I traveled the staircase and changed clothes three times – one to dine, one to dance, and one to search for chocolate outside. 

The world is still open. Trees in our yards (that never go anywhere) are changing into their best greens, and yellows and violets. They are dressing up and saying – it’s spring!  Let’s celebrate! 

If our hearts and minds are open, the world is open, and I’m prepared to put my heart on my sleeve and bloom with the best of them!