I don't celebrate Christmas, instead, I prefer to celebrate Solstice. Which is a much more nature based holiday. I do however get my girls gifts, which we exchange on the 21st. Things that they need, mostly. As they have gotten older, they also like to get gifts for their friends and thanks to their grandmother (my mum), who usually sends them some money, they have been able to. My two eldest, have been at me to bring them to the Shopping Center in Granada, so they can get their gifts. Its probably one of my least favourite places, but it's not about me. So for one day out of the year, I become a fish out of water. And that day, was today.
The noise, the lights, the smells. It's just way too stimulating for me. One of my closest friends came with me, which I must say made it easier. As we were driving there my girls were excited ( my youngest stayed with her best friend, it would have been way too stressful for me bringing her along, as she is just two wild to be contained.) I was a little apprehensive, to say the least. When we got there, we parked underground. When we entered the shopping center, the lights seemed especially bright and so it began. I took a deep breath as I stepped off the escalator.
The place was pretty crowded and I pushed the uneasy feeling that had been brewing, off to the side. I just had to look at my girls faces and see how happy and excited they were. I'd love it, if they didn't buy into the hype, it's something we have talked about. But it's important that they experience it. (and ayways after a few hours they were over it too.)
They already knew, the shops they wanted to go to. Which luckily, were spaced not too far away from one another. We went to the biggest one first, cos best to get that out of the way. We were there for at least an hour, ( yes an hour) it's where I took these two photos. Sitting in the changing room opposite my daughter, as she was trying something on. I was trying to be patient and enjoy a little bit of solitude, even though the lights were super bright.
Anytime I come to a place like this, I feel a little scruffy. I've got working hands and it's not so easy to keep them clean, living as I do. These hands were made for being in the soil, for climbing trees and rummaging outdoors. It's not easy to tame a wild thing. Plus I don't really want to. That photo up above, is there to prove my point.
It was a long day in the end, as my girls don't like to rush. Plus we had some food inbthe food court. Each of us having a wrap. I had the vegan one, which had some plant based meat in it. It was a bit much really. I would have been happy with just veggies, I'm not really into meat substitutes, I don't enjoy eating something that looks like it could have come from an animal.
One of my daughters got falafel's , I should have got the same really. Maybe if I come again, I'll do that. But to be honest I'd rather not. By five o clock, I could feel a headache coming on. I knew I had reached my limit. But there was still onr more store to go to. My eldest wanted to get some treats for the animals. But wow, was I happy to leave after that. Of course I kept most of my feelings to myself. But on the way home, I did tell my girls that it was a tad bit hard for me. They replied, " We know mam, we know".
