It was so tempting, but I knew I didn’t have time. I was at the department store in the mall for one reason, a new pair of shoes. I had to find what I needed and get back to work within half an hour. I didn’t have time for anything else, but it was so tempting.

Because, you see, when you walk into the store, the first thing you see is a sea of pink. Pink and purple, but with pink predominating. It’s the girls’ infant wear department. I very nearly veered off anyway, despite the press for time. I wanted to hold up little rompers and onesies and playsets, and picture Kylie wearing them. Kylie, who won’t be born until September.

And dresses. I want to buy a little tiny dress.

I don’t know if I’ve ever shopped in that department before in my life, so it would all be new to me. I’ve bought a lot of little boys’ clothes, but nothing for a brand new baby girl. I know for sure I’ve never bought a dress. It’s too bad I was on a mission, because I wanted to take that detour. We still have almost five months, though, so there’s no need to rush.

And why was buying myself a new pair of shoes such an emergency that I had to cut into my valuable errand time for a special trip to the mall? In my old shoes, I can’t go anywhere any more, because they’re green. I have dress shoes and other sneakers, but I have one pair that I wear almost all the time. So of course I was wearing them when I was using my new lawnmower for the first time over the weekend. And of course they’re now green. And of course I had to get a new, non-green pair to wear, if I ever want to go anywhere in public again. So that’s what I did.