Sarah's Day Off

October 12, 2011
My girls love to shop, but each for different reasons. Katie's all about the latest fashions and trends, better known as whatever everyone else has. Sydney, as we all know, has a flair for the dramatic. Her tastes can be anything from what I like to what her sisters don't like. More important than anything, though, is her share needs to be equal to or more than theirs. Neither seem to pay particular attention to the items, only the pursuit of acquisition.

Sarah, on the other hand, revels in the stores. She picks up everything from hairbows and jewelry to books and clothes, examining each as if she was a quality control inspector out on a shopping bender. Her weakness is purses, like her mother. She also doesn't immediately forget her newly acquired possessions. I sometimes catch her in her room, neatly organizing and displaying things.

When she found out my parents and I were going to Shanghai to the fake markets, she wanted to take her 'free day'. Her many suitors have given her little baubles and trinkets, so she was on the hunt for a jewelry box. She knew exactly the kind she was looking for, and after finding the right shop, she narrowed her choices methodically. After a bit of annoying negogiations, she proudly walked out with her black silk jewelry box.

Our next stop was a quick photo op on the Bund. The Huangpu river separates Shanghai's west and east sides; Puxi and Pudong. The view from the Puxi side across the river is impressive. Even though the sky was cloudy, the Pearl Tower, the Financial building and dozens of skyscrapers made a stunning backdrop for pictures.

The river was crowded with barges, ferries, and tankers coming in and out of the city. Even with the spectacular scenery, Sarah's attention was drawn to the beautiful bride being photographed by the river's edge. She asked to borrow my camera. After several minutes, she and my father returned with more pictures of the bride than of the picturesque surroundings.

Upon return, Sarah immediately went to her room and began to sort through her vast collection of priceless wonders. She carefully selected which gems would go into the new jewelry box. Her favorite part of the box is the 'secret compartment'. As much as I want to peak inside, I have refrained...for the time being. Though, I would love to know what she considers secret compartment-worthy.