The Triumphant Return of Veruca Salt
Back in my "plastic days" where I had a credit card for virtually every store in the mall, including a few "generic" ones (like Visa and Mastercard and Discover, etc. - all of which I possessed) I'd experience what I liked to call the "Veruca Salt" syndrome upon entering a store. I'd be minding my own business, browsing and whatnot, when I would see something - a necklace perhaps . . . and I would touch it, try it on, and proceed to fall madly in love with it. And in the very depths of my mind I would hear that shrieky little British voice:
GOOSES! GEESES! I WANT MY GEESE TO LAY GOLD EGGS FOR EASTER!
See here for reference:
And then I would buy buy buy - Veruca's little tune rambling in my head.
I WANT IT NOW!
This continued on until I was in heaps of debt (which I managed to get out of later on when I was a little more wizened up.) It's funny how these credit card people will set up on college campuses and lure naive little freshman with promises of free t-shirts. At least that's what it was like when I was there in the 90s.
"Would you like to have years and years of crippling debt that will haunt you for life AND get this free tshirt?"
"Excuse me, did you say free tshirt? Sign me up!"
Don't even think I ever wore said t-shirt(s).
But anyhoo - so, yes, I was talking about how Veruca Salt's song from Willy Wonka used to play in my head when I shopped. This stopped after I got out of debt and developed healthier shopping habits. I think that I really used shopping to ease the pain that I had going on in my life during those years. My parent's divorce. My weight gain. My unrequited heartbreaks. My fall from grace. It's not to say that everyone who shops is trying to soothe some sort of heartache - I mean, some people just like shoes, for God's sake. But in my case, it was filling a void. Of course, life went on, I found love, I found God, I found serenity. I didn't really need as much anymore.
And then several weeks ago I was pondering the purchase of an iPhone. (What a glorious thing the iPhone is! Chad got one and I started playing with it and fell in lust.) However, I also wanted black boots. And an argyle sweater for fall. And some sexy pumps. And some new perfume. And lotion. And some cute and trendy jewelry. And some RayBan sunglasses (although I have never NEVER believed in paying a lot for sunglasses) - Wayfarers to be exact. The classic black ones. Oh and I also wanted a Coach purse - a big one.
I was explaining all of this to my coworker and friend Erica - scheming and trying to figure out how to get my precious iPhone in addition to all my other little wants without going completely broke and she suggested that I wait for the iPhone.
"But I want it now!"
And then I paused. Uh oh. Who did that sound like? And then the song began playing in my head all over again.
I WANT THE WORLD! I WANT THE WHOLE WORLD!
It played last week when I cruised DSW shoes. It played yesterday as I shopped the mall snapping up deal after deal. Once the scent of retail hits my nostrils, a signal is sent to my brain and Veruca begins.
I didn't like it. I felt out of control.
And then I went to church this morning. And the sermon was on being financially responsible. And not basing your happiness on material things. And not throwing money around like an idiot. I know it's all very common-sense stuff, but for some reason it hit me in the gut. And I thought about all the things that we should be doing with our money - giving to the church, giving to charity, saving money for emergencies. I was sad and disappointed in myself for letting it get out of hand. And it's not like I spent a whole lot of money. Because most of the things I listed above I didn't buy. But it was that craving that stirred inside of me and wouldn't leave me alone.
I think today's message might have silenced Veruca for the time being. I'll just have to keep working to keep my priorities straight. It's easy to fall into the trap of materialism. But I'm going to try to be content with what I have and use a little more sense when I'm shopping.
Take that, Veruca!
GOOSES! GEESES! I WANT MY GEESE TO LAY GOLD EGGS FOR EASTER!
See here for reference:
And then I would buy buy buy - Veruca's little tune rambling in my head.
I WANT IT NOW!
This continued on until I was in heaps of debt (which I managed to get out of later on when I was a little more wizened up.) It's funny how these credit card people will set up on college campuses and lure naive little freshman with promises of free t-shirts. At least that's what it was like when I was there in the 90s.
"Would you like to have years and years of crippling debt that will haunt you for life AND get this free tshirt?"
"Excuse me, did you say free tshirt? Sign me up!"
Don't even think I ever wore said t-shirt(s).
But anyhoo - so, yes, I was talking about how Veruca Salt's song from Willy Wonka used to play in my head when I shopped. This stopped after I got out of debt and developed healthier shopping habits. I think that I really used shopping to ease the pain that I had going on in my life during those years. My parent's divorce. My weight gain. My unrequited heartbreaks. My fall from grace. It's not to say that everyone who shops is trying to soothe some sort of heartache - I mean, some people just like shoes, for God's sake. But in my case, it was filling a void. Of course, life went on, I found love, I found God, I found serenity. I didn't really need as much anymore.
And then several weeks ago I was pondering the purchase of an iPhone. (What a glorious thing the iPhone is! Chad got one and I started playing with it and fell in lust.) However, I also wanted black boots. And an argyle sweater for fall. And some sexy pumps. And some new perfume. And lotion. And some cute and trendy jewelry. And some RayBan sunglasses (although I have never NEVER believed in paying a lot for sunglasses) - Wayfarers to be exact. The classic black ones. Oh and I also wanted a Coach purse - a big one.
I was explaining all of this to my coworker and friend Erica - scheming and trying to figure out how to get my precious iPhone in addition to all my other little wants without going completely broke and she suggested that I wait for the iPhone.
"But I want it now!"
And then I paused. Uh oh. Who did that sound like? And then the song began playing in my head all over again.
I WANT THE WORLD! I WANT THE WHOLE WORLD!
It played last week when I cruised DSW shoes. It played yesterday as I shopped the mall snapping up deal after deal. Once the scent of retail hits my nostrils, a signal is sent to my brain and Veruca begins.
I didn't like it. I felt out of control.
And then I went to church this morning. And the sermon was on being financially responsible. And not basing your happiness on material things. And not throwing money around like an idiot. I know it's all very common-sense stuff, but for some reason it hit me in the gut. And I thought about all the things that we should be doing with our money - giving to the church, giving to charity, saving money for emergencies. I was sad and disappointed in myself for letting it get out of hand. And it's not like I spent a whole lot of money. Because most of the things I listed above I didn't buy. But it was that craving that stirred inside of me and wouldn't leave me alone.
I think today's message might have silenced Veruca for the time being. I'll just have to keep working to keep my priorities straight. It's easy to fall into the trap of materialism. But I'm going to try to be content with what I have and use a little more sense when I'm shopping.
Take that, Veruca!
posted by lovemydox at 2:38 PM
1 Comments:
I've never had my own 'plastic days' per se but I can admit that buying makes me very happy. Like endorphin releasing happy.
Also? I am completely and wholly in love with my iPhone. Her name is Bianca and we are soulmates.
I'm not any help at all, am I?
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