For the Books

These were always a big thing. Most every year each of us kids got a new one...Mainly because we'd really used the one we had the previous year so much - it'd really been worn through. There'd be snags, or holes, or tears, something making it that it definitely wouldn't last another year so we might as well get replacements while the prices were in our back-to-school buying favor.

We typically would pick out whichever we'd use by heading to the nearest, regular department store where Mom would normally find herself shopping. As luck would have it, (no, really it was all because of peer pressure 😂), during a particular year of high school the going hallway trend, for one, was to wear it with both straps & not just one, which Mom loved because it was better for our backs & she considered the tolls our at-home studying was causing to our backsides throughout the school day, & for two, this brand was the one to be using.

This caught on as time wore on throughout the first semester that year (probably my sophomore or junior year of high school). Trendsetters we definitely were not under our humble little roof, though for some reason this particular trend was one which we managed to catch. Albeit with some strife...I do remember having to "convince" Mom that, although the one I currently used wasn't completely caput, having one of these would be a more lasting solution.

I know she discussed it with Dad. Why wouldn't she? I'm pretty sure that the homework they did, especially as I had at least a year of school left, they figured out that the brand alone was one to consider worth-the-while. Mom did her research & learned of Christmas bargains on the brand. The biggest struggle we ran into, that left despair & hurt in only the way our family relationship can create turmoil, happened to be that when discussing which model I'd most been interested in, I couldn't recall the exact one, so I mentioned the one I thought it might've been. There's where I went wrong...

Ultimately Mom had done her homework so well that they were able to wrap up one like this, as I'd requested. Somewhere in the process of those weeks of the year I did figure out which model I'd meant to mention, which was this model. Mom could tell that something just wasn't as it should be, so she inquired. There's no way to easily write out about the [could've been a] minor meltdown that ensued because of that [poor] decision I chose to make. Ultimately, because of these special coupons, & the extra efforts Mom made on my behalf that Christmas - to attain what she knew to be - just the right one - she had me use my own money to compensate the remainder on the exchange when we returned to the store.

This had an impact on me because I had to accept it despite not agreeing with how Mom/Mom & Dad chose to handle the situation. The lack of grace, understanding, forgiveness, empathy...I could go on...

On a positive note, I did finish high school with this still going strong... No rips, or tears, or snags. Just a well worn, well used look. 😃


These links are affiliate links to Amazon as well as the image link in the top left.

If you'd like to shop my general Amazon Store, click here & Thank You!