<p>I received a lovely handwritten thank you note this morning.</p>



<p>It was printed on heavy cardstock, the kind that&#39;s soft and powdery and feels good on your fingertips.&#0160; The front of the note was engraved in tasteful dark grey.&#0160; The envelope had been thoughtfully sealed with a crest, and a &quot;Love&quot; stamp was affixed at the front.</p>

<p>I felt guilt wash over me like a tidal wave when I opened it.</p>

<p>Because the front of the note was not engraved with a friend&#39;s name or even &quot;Thank You&quot;.&#0160; It was engraved with SAKS FIFTH AVENUE.&#0160; Because it came, not from a friend, but from the lady that sold me shoes last weekend.</p>

<p>Gulp.</p>

<p>Did I really I spend so much <strong>on shoes</strong> that the woman took the time to send me handwritten note* on fancy paper?&#0160; This is not good. </p>

<p>But it&#39;s The Husband&#39;s fault!&#0160; He says I never spoil myself.&#0160; That I should go to Saks (he SPECIFIED Saks) and buy myself something.&#0160; Anything.&#0160; He&#39;s been saying this for months.</p>

<p>Well I finally did.&#0160; And I searched for something hot and at a good price.&#0160; Then, after confirming that nothing there is &quot;at good price&quot;, I went in for something hot and practical.</p>

<p>I bought Jimmy Choo flats.&#0160; In a neutral color, so they&#39;ll go with everything.&#0160; I hope to wear them so much that if I figure the per-use cost they&#39;ll be a total bargain!&#0160; But apparently, my definition of &quot;practical&quot; shoes somehow includes glittery silver shoes made with intricately cutout and expensive italian leather.&#0160; Shoes so well made that they reflect light like mirrors. <br /> </p>

<p>Silver goes with everything, right?</p>

<p>There&#39;s a tiny voice in my head saying that I should return them...but they&#39;re so <a href="http://www.designerexposure.com/images/products/15230_1_medium.jpg" target="_blank">gorgeous</a>!&#0160; I&#39;m keeping them.&#0160; Screw mommy guilt!&#0160; I&#39;m Cinderella, and I&#39;ve found my glass slippers!</p>

<p>I&#39;ll simply have to wear them everyday for the rest of my life.&#0160; And leave a trail of expensive glitter everywhere I go.</p>

<p></p>

<p>*In case you were wondering, this is what she wrote:<br /><em>&quot;Dear Ms. Housewife:&#0160; Thank you for shopping with us and for your generous contribution to my son&#39;s college fund.&#0160; I hope your son grows up to have talent in football or at least scores perfectly on his SATs, because God knows he&#39;ll need it at the rate you&#39;re going.&#0160; I look forward to serving you when you next visit...ha ha, sucker!&quot; **</em></p>

<p>**OK, maybe she didn&#39;t write that, but it was implied.&#0160; I can read between the lines, you know.<em></em></p>
