#603 I'm just not cool enough for some stores

I went to the Apple store at the mall today. I've never been in there before, and I was a little overwhelmed by the sheer energy in the place. It felt like the whole store was buzzing. There were lots and lots of people in there looking at iPads and iPods and Mac books and iPhones and cases and gadgets to make your Apple products hipper and cooler and better in all ways. I was there to find a screen protector for T's new iPod Touch that he got for Christmas.

While I was waiting for the sales clerk to bring my change (you don't have to stand in line to get checked out. The sales person scans your item on an iPhone, tells you how much you owe, then goes off to get change when you pay with cash.) What was I saying - oh yeah, I was waiting for my change and I had a vision of my stupid Blackberry ringing. I imagined the whole Apple store would come to a complete and silent stand-still while I sheepishly pulled out the Blackberry to take the call.

My Blackberry didn't ring, so of course, none of that happened except in my imagination. I really did have the urge to pull out my beloved iPhone and wave it around to show that I really did belong in the uber-hip and energetic Apple store, though.

That store freaked me out a little, as did Urban Outfitter. I've never been in there either, but I saw something on Pinterest.com (my new favorite website!) that I absolutely had to have right away. I'll explain more about the project inspired by Pinterest another time, but suffice it to say that I felt kind of old and out of place in Urban Outfitter. I was so rattled by the experiences that I had to go to Starbucks to get a Zen-inducing chai latte. Even the experience of ordering at Starbucks is a little strange - tall skinny chai no water. Do you know how many times I've practiced saying that?

Anyway, that's my shopping experience today. What I learned is that even though it all felt a little foreign, it was pretty fun. I think I'll wander around stores a little more often. You don't have to buy anything, and it's fun to look at all the stuff. Maybe next year I'll actually have THINGS to ask for at Christmas time. :) You don't know what's out there unless you go looking!