Reflections on an El Paso trip.

If you live in the United States and you have a major department store in the vicinity , this post might not be something you have ever experienced. And if you have NEVER power shopped it probably WONT be something I suggest you try. On a recent outing to good old El Paso, TX I had an epiphany that I should write about my experience, and in so doing I might re read it when I want to go out shopping again, After i read it im sure i would save hundreds maybe thousands of dollars by not wanting to go. These are my observations on an El PASO trip:
1. Waking up before the sun comes out to drive 3 hours(with the wait at the border its now close to 4) to go to the nearest mall and walmart with two small children is crazy. (much less my friend who came with and brought her 5 small children.)
2. Who ever knew going to the post office could be the highlight of the week, or of the last 3 weeks because thats the last time you picked up your mail!
3. In less than a 24 hour period hitting 3 major malls and all the stores in them, target, sams, walmart, marshalls, best buy and other small places is exhausting and then having to shop for 4 kids school clothes and supplies at the same time knowing that this will be your only chance to get EVERYTHING you need because you wont have a chance to come for a while is even MORE EXHAUSTING!
4. I created a monster in my daughter, somewhere she learned to have a fashion sense and it is not quite the same as mine, in all those stores she couldnt find a thing! EXCEPT for a pair of sketchers twinkle toes light up shoes, Obviously the person who invented those knew is his mind that they were the most obnoxious pair of shoes and mothers would have fights with their little girls over them because the daughters HAD TO HAVE THEM and eventually the mothers would give in! Fortunately after 4 stores we found them in Dillards in her size!
5. After all the shopping for clothes I am too tired to even think of buying food for my family at Sams and I ALWAYS end up not getting much of that stuff!
6. After 6 check points , and 5 of them being searched or asked for papers we were passed the last one and like ALWAYS we say oh we should have brought more stuff! If you only could see how LOADED we were already, for those of you who dont know the logistics in Mexico you can only bring $50 a person worth of stuff in without paying a high percentage of duty. Right now its $300 per person for the month. I have to say we were just a little bit (or alot) over that amount like always, and the Suburban was LOADED full. So....We have learned to pack our bags pretty well and I never get the chance to hang clothes in my closet with tags on, they are all ripped off as soon as they are bought!
7. So as much as I like to shop I have now rethought it and I will be buying all that I can in this little mexican town because Its just not that FUN ANYMORE!
8. My children are great travelers but like the older 2, the younger 2 would rather not travel to El Paso ANY MORE!
Oh the joys of living in a small Mexico town!