Last updated June 5 2025
Chapter 55
Shopping & Deals
“I’ll never pay full price” she would say when we first met. And so it was that she was forever looking for deals and specials first by way of flyers then of course online. This was a favourite pastime of Marlene and one that I enjoyed witnessing very much.
Part of the trip planning process was scoping out the local shopping facilities. The Florida and New Hampshire trips would require a visit to the local outlet mall.
I also learned quite early on to not rush Marlene as she went from store to store and to wait for those words’ “OK I’ve seen enough”
My favorite moments were when I knew she wanted to go look at jewelry and see something she liked and say nah I’ll think on it and then I would wait for her to say can we go back to that place? They of course would always be on sale (are they ever not?) and I would say look we need something to remember the trip and it’s on sale and I’m buying it for you. I just loved buying her stuff like that.
Philosophically however we differed in that I believe you buy what you like and that fits and if on sale then even better rather than just looking at the stuff that’s on sale.
Marlene taught me a lot re the art of negotiation and will be forever grateful. Her favourite line was “You don’t get if you don’t ask”