As we progress further and further into the abstract world of technology, we often lose touch with traditional and ancestral practices. Routines that once separated us from the uncivilized hunters and gatherers of the world are slowly being eroded from our memory banks.
The one thing that made us conqueror of all in the free world, second only to having an opposable thumb, was not only the ability to shop, but the knowledge of knowing how to shop.
For those that can remember back that far, the shopping experience was a long anticipated adventure. Young girls and occasionally little Skeeter boys would dream of the upcoming trip as they looked through their closets for their best slacks or dresses, their crisp shirts or blouses and their shiniest of shoes, often black patent leather for the girls and sometimes the boys would sport a bow tie.
The mothers would often dress their young daughter with the same ensemble that the mother was wearing or sometimes if there were sisters, they would both wear the matching attire. From hat, sometimes with a veil, to scarf, to purse and to the obligatory white gloves they set the pace for a fun and exciting day.
And then they would head out to shop.
Keep in mind, shopping wasn't necessarily buying. Shopping was browsing. Shopping was trying on items and looking into the mirrors that gave almost a full circle of presentation from all sides. The moms would smile, the little girls would beam but by then, the little Skeeter boys were becoming bored and they would make faces in the mirrors and try and see how far they could see around their backs.
As the day wore on, the mothers would offer tips to her young charges on the importance of different fabrics such as the softness of cashmere or the fragrance of leather. Sometimes the little Skeeter boys were left momentarily as the mothers and their older daughter would venture into the dressing room taking along more intimate clothing. The little boys or little girls left behind would often receive a soft command from within saying, "Skeeter or Mary or Alice or whomever, "Go get the saleslady".
The experienced well-dressed, salesperson, expert would enter the dressing room and after a few hmmms and ummms would leave and come back and then saunter forth with more intimate items. Finally all would exit with smiles on everyone's faces except for the young teen whose face showed only crimson cheeks and a half-smile.
My first exposure into understanding that shopping was an adventure, an event, rather than just a trip to accumulate goods was later in life when I took on an extra job selling ladies shoes at Marshall Fields, a world-wide store, known for the latest in women's fashions. Simply stated, I sold ladies shoes. Trouble was, I later found out, woman tried on shoes, lots of them, different styles, different designs, sometimes even different sizes. But that's what they were there for...they were shopping, but not buying. It was truly an Art how they took something as simple as leather, thread and glue and turned it into a show. The young children would eagerly await their turn to try on their first heels as the little Skeeter boy played with the metal device that measured feet as he imitated the salesperson as he straddled the little footstool.
So much of what we learn isn't always from books or lectures, it's from watching someone we trust and try to emulate them. But now, mothers teaching the youngsters this mysterious and time honored tradition of shopping is now in jeopardy. Technology has now taken over.
One can sit in their easy chair as they browse their phone, or tablet or laptop and simply say, "Siri, I need a pair of black leather pumps, with 3 inch heels, a beaded black clutch, a blue scarf and I need it by Tuesday. Also, I have coupons." Even the weekly shopping trip to Walmart is now being replaced with a simple APP that allows you to place your entire shopping list in someone else's hands, the Personal Shopper, to have your items ready for pick-up without ever leaving your car...or simply having Uber deliver the groceries.
How will the children learn to pick the ripest melon, the ripest or not-ripest avocado? Even grocery shopping is becoming a lost Art. I know, I know many of the younger moms and dads are saying GREAT!. My only concern is how will the next generation learn to pick up that tomato and simply by smelling and sniffing, they know they have exactly want they wanted.
Is it truly an Art, this in-store shopping phenomon? Is it soon to be a lost Art?. Sadly, I think so. The malls keep closing their stores, the Saks, the Maceys, the Neiman's all are closing up shop and turning to technology to sell their wares. The days of Mother and daughters wearing their white gloves and carrying their purse for a day of fun and learning are now over.
The children will learn their own way, and, well...that's okay...even for me. I am sad though that the touch of cashmere and that fragrance of leather may never be experienced the way we first learned while walking through the stores.
The young girls will grow up and be great shoppers on their own and in their own way. And, the little Skeeter boys, they'll be fine too. Heck, they never really shopped anyway.....they just learned from their dad's to just go in and buy, the heck with that shopping stuff.
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