Every year I go through my makeup drawer (ok, drawers, I have multiple) and weed out the scads, heaps and gobs of unused lipsticks, limp dirty blush brushes, and ridiculous eyeshadow palettes that I was never going to wear anyway (it must have been my alter-ego Fuchsia who told me it was ok to buy that chartreuse glitter eyeshadow). I throw out everything that is a year old (or in some cases, more than 5 years old). I toss it, make a list of what I need to buy this year, and then next year I go through the entire process again. Weed, throw, list, buy, weed, throw, list, buy, and so on.
I get ever so excited thinking about what I'm going to buy, what new things I want to try, how I'm going to keep it under a million bucks, etc. I start out being sensible (and that goes directly out the window without passing Go), thinking only of earth tones and natural vegetable or mineral-based products, no testing on animals! Humans, ok, but not defenseless bunnies and rats (I had a pet rat once so I'm a bit sensitive to the rights of rodents). This year was no exception. After purging everything that was old, possibly moldy, or just plain hideous (like the bright orange blush), I was finished. I sat down, made my list and was ready to go to Sephora and make my purchases.
This year, Zeus asked if he could go (I think it is cool that he asksif he can go), and I said, "Sure, if you don't think you will be bored and rush me through the process." I take makeup buying very seriously. I wasn't always so "girly," really up until a couple of years ago I didn't care so much about makeup. I suppose that is one more thing that happens when one turns 40...vanity. Anyway, you see, I can spend hours, and I mean actual hours, in Sephora stores and I don't want to be hurried. I want to take my time and savor every eye-popping color and smell. There are so many bright goodies and sparkly powders to see. It makes me want to try out each and every one! Zeus seemed up for the challenge, so I let him tag along.
As soon as Zeus and I step foot in the store, I let go of his hand and immediately head toward the first shiny tacky thing that catches my eye, which happened to be Urban Decay's shiny yellow eyeshadow. I don't wear yellow eyeshadow but it was like crack for the optical nerve and I headed straight for the tiny little pot of gold (don't worry, I didn't buy it).
Zeus reminded me of a deer caught in headlights. He stood still for a few seconds and followed me around. He was mesmerized. I can understand, to a man, a store dedicated to makeup must be such an alien, decadent, oh wait, stupid concept. I think he may actually have thought he was dreaming the entire trip.
He followed me in a stupor as I grabbed the items on my list, and of course, items that were not on my list. After about 30 minutes, I had everything I came in for, including crap I didn't need and probably won't wear. Zeus was drawn to a shiny jar of teal sparkly eye-shadow and he wanted me to own it! He was so hooked on this that he said Santa may get it for me for Christmas.
Before I checked out, Zeus spoke up and asked, "Why do I not see any Fire Engine Red eyeshadow?" I told him we had already passed it a few aisles back and he thought I was kidding until I walked him back to the shelf displaying the red powder (along with deep dark blue, lime green, and more yellow, etc). He was impressed I think! Next to the bright red was a little tester pot of dark glittery purple. He liked that purple and wanted me to try it on.
I finished my shopping and we walked hand-in-hand out of the mall to find some dinner, me in purple glitter eyeshadow and bright pink glitter blush, and Zeus with an expression on his face as though he had just spent two days on Mars (or in a coma).
--Fortuitous Observer
