You know how you have those times that are so busy and you get off your normal routine but you assume everything will be exactly like you left it once life slows down again?
That’s what I used to think too.
Until I realized yesterday that the Gap store right by my house has been boarded up for reasons of which I am unaware.
I’m hoping that it’s just some sort of renovation thing going on because the thought of having to drive all the way to the mall like in ye olden days to go to Gap is more than I can bear. And, truthfully, that could serve to signal the end of my relationship with Gap.
There was a time in my life that I couldn’t live without Gap and there was no distance far enough to cause my love to fade. In the early 90’s I bought a pair of long plaid walking shorts there that, when paired with a denim shirt and a Brighton belt, created the perfect outfit. It was the only place I used to buy my jeans and I still own an old Gap plaid flannel shirt that once belonged to Gulley.
But over the years Gap has become hit or miss to me. There have been many times that I’ve mentally composed a letter to them while in the store looking around.
Dear Gap, Quit trying to make elbow patches happen.
Dear Gap, Why do you insist on putting awkward pockets on what would otherwise be a perfect skirt?
Dear Gap, Are you smoking crack? I don’t even know if this is a dress or a shirt.
Dear Gap, You are out of your mind if you think I’m going to pay $49.98 for a sweater that already pilled up while I was trying it on in the dressing room.
However, it’s like that old friend that you can’t quit because even though they may get on your nerves 75% of the time, they are still sometimes delightful the other 25%.
(Gulley, I am not talking about you. This is just a lame analogy I came up with and isn’t based on a real person, living or dead.)
My point is (and I do have a point even though you may just think I’m rambling because I have nothing else to write about tonight) that the Gap by my house is one of my regular stops. I run in there at least twice a week just to look around on the off chance there’s a great deal going on. And it has paid off in just the last several weeks in the form of a cute dress I found on sale for $15, a pair of pj pants for only $6, and a striped t-shirt that was deeply discounted after Christmas.
But now it’s apparently closed for the indefinite future. Which means I’ll have to find a substitute. Banana Republic is right down the way but it’s not quite the same. Mainly because I feel like sometimes Banana takes itself too seriously and, frankly, it’s way too fancy for my current life that pretty much just requires yoga pants.
On a related note: In college I bought this long, floral maroon wrap skirt from Banana and wore it with a matching maroon t-shirt, a denim vest, and maroon flats. You don’t even want to know how awesome I thought I was in that outfit. And that I probably continued to wear it far longer than I probably should have.
Anyway, I realize I’ve now shared more of my thoughts about Gap than anyone really cares to know, but I’m sitting here next to P and he’s watching Cowboys vs. Aliens and I had to do something besides watch T.V. because you know what is worse than awkward pockets on an otherwise perfect skirt?
Watching a cowboy get his internal organs cut out by an alien.