Always Needing to Put at Least One Back-on-the-Rack

When I'd go shopping with my parents as a young girl, no matter how many of anything I'd find on a rack, or shelf, that I'd like, I'd be informed I could only get a portion of them. Basically, if I selected four, then I'd be told to pick out two, or maybe only one. If I presented three, then I'd still have to put back at least one, if not two of what I'd chosen. At least once I tried to outsmart this selection process &, instead of showing my parents four of the item, I pre-narrowed my items-of-interest to two items. Don't cha know it, but I was informed I should pick one to keep & then put the other one back.

Darn.

Just when I'd thought I'd outsmarted "the system". A seeming backfire.

These were items, off the rack, for example, where a top or an outfit would come in several colors, or designs. I'd consider adding half of the available options to my wardrobe & that's when I'd be informed that I still had some more narrowing to do.

Always left torn on which I'd really not need, or which I'd not be as likely to miss, I'd be left to my own contemplation. Yes, I definitely overthought these decisions each time. Maybe because at these times of my life I'd not many decisions to make; not too much control even of these simpler things had been left in my hands.

Mom would know, even on a gifting wishlist, that I might just round when requesting an item; I had to give purpose & circumstance to the "wishes" on my list. I didn't have any plain white tops, any basic white "tees" & I realized that I didn't, so I wrote them down. I don't recall how many I'd written down, though it was a plural number. Sure enough Mom was asking me about this request & where I'd come up with it.

I know in a way she was checking to find out if I'd discovered an outfit or multiple outfits where I'd really be better off having a white tee, & maybe that I was asking for just-one-more, like a Baker's Dozen works. Though I also feel certain that she'd likely have decided negatively on the purpose of my white tees count; that's just the nature of our relationship.

I've pretty much always fought windburn & sunburn & dried out lips. Thus I've also always needed something in the way of a lip balm. Typically I used whatever was on sale or for which we'd have clipped coupons.

I remember once in early high school when I put it (link to Amazon as well as the image link in the top left) on my list & I made sure to mention the three places where I'd be stowing each of them, so as to ensure I'd actually receive all three, & not any less. One was in my school locker, one was in my backpack, & the other was in my gym locker. Having one in each of these places meant that, no matter when I'd reach for some, there'd be some available.

Sure enough, I got the quiz. Mom acknowledged (while smirking) that I was, in fact, in need of each & had a place & purpose for each; sure enough when I unwrapped that package all three were there. I did appreciate it. She considered it a success; I considered it (& still do!) nauseating & frustrating. I felt that I had to basically work for the gift. Where's the fun in that?

I've bought all of the rack's selection plenty of times since those childhood days. And I can admit that once or twice (but not many more!) I did have one or two more on hand of whatever it was than I truly needed. Yet I still had peace of mind, & that was plenty; that was good. If I really had too much then I'd just donate the extra (unless I'd recently purchased it, then I'd try to take the item back for a refund).

Donating & purging. Right back-on-the-rack.