Category: consumerism

I’m still here

In spite of the angst and exhaustion I feel daily, I am still here.

I was buoyed by a casual get together outside with my neighbors on Sunday night. It was so cold but still we sat outside in a semicircle talking and sharing.

I walked with a friend today who shared that she has been buying books to stock the Little Free Libraries in our neighborhoods.

Being with family, friends, and neighbors reassures me that our country will survive.

Imperfect, yet we are still here, doing what we can as good people caught in tough times.

~~~I hope that you are well my dear friends out in the world.~~~

The Coat I Did Not Buy

redjacketThere was a really cute coat that I fell in love with while visiting Whistler, B.C. in September.  It was a  raincoat by Helly Hansen with simple lines in a soft olive color.  Not that I needed another raincoat.  By my last count, I own one yellow, two black, and  one brown raincoat and two rain jackets.  That is more than enough for rainy Portland.

So, why was I even looking at raincoats?  Poor planning.

It was pouring rain everyday while I was in Whistler.  I had ignored the weather forecasts thinking it can’t rain everyday. I simply was not prepared for all of the walking in the rain  that I would do in this charming resort.  Because I had packed the wrong coats for my stay,  I was either wet and freezing in a down vest over a long tee shirt or roasting in a full-length North Face down coat.

Conveniently, there was a Helly Hansen store on the ground level of the Westin Resort where I was a guest.  The American dollar was strong against the Canadian dollar.  Plus,  there was a sale in progress- one of the perks of vacationing at the end of the season.  It was a simple equation.  I need a raincoat and the price was right for a charming, versatile Helly Hansen raincoat.  So, what was the conflict? Continue reading “The Coat I Did Not Buy” →