Years ago, on a snowy day similar to our weather today here in Michigan,  my husband called me from work.  He asked me to do a favor for his office.  One person was getting married the next weekend and I was given an envelope of cash from my husband.  I slipped down the sidewalk with a diaper bag, purse, and baby.  I did not know the couple who were getting married.  We were not attending the wedding, ourselves.  We could not get a babysitter for our four kids.

The snowsuit was too big for my son, so he kept sliding down inside of it until he cried unhappily in the bottom of suit.  I shifted him on my hip and bravely entered the heavy glass doors of the most expensive store in town.  I stomped the snow off my feet and let my purse and diaper bag drop in the foyer.  The baby was happy to be taken out of the snowsuit.  He had  blotches of red on his face from being upset.

I smiled as I struggled  to saddle back up the purse, the diaper bag, and the baby.  Women behind the counter who worked at the store gave me simpering smiles back that threatened me.  I told them I was just looking.  I was just looking.  The idea was to get expensive crystal for a group gift.  I thought that a vase would be appropriate.  I looked, for a moment, at the price tag.  It was so expensive that I gasped out loud.  I shifted my load and went over to the wine goblets.  If I sold my baby on the street I could get a total of four wine goblets.  I downsized to salt and pepper shakers, and these cost exactly what my used car cost. I went over to the manger scene crafted in crystal. Each was sold separately.  My hands shook as I picked up the small baby Jesus. It was so small for a gift funded by a group.  It was as expensive as the cost of all of my jewelry. including my wedding ring.  I was sweating at this point and went over to a bowl.  I put down the baby, the diaper bag, my coat, hat, and mittens.  I wiped my sweaty hands on my rear.

I took a deep breath and tried to get my hands around the bowl.  I froze.  I could not pick it up and carry it over to the sales counter.  I tried five times until the baby fussed loudly.  I put on my coat, my hat, and picked up my baby and diaper bag and purse.  I slipped down the sidewalk after leaving the store and the baby and I cried all the way to the office.  I gave the envelope of money to a woman on the staff who I thought was the one to best go select a gift.  She drove a Jaguar, and had a four carat diamond ring.  She looked, well, qualified.  I explained that I had no clue what to buy.  She gave me a bright smile and when my husband came home I heard that she bought the bowl for a fortune.

I set the dinner table that night with Dixie cups and plates. I tried to imagine this high end bride and groom having a six pack of kids.  I smiled.