Shocked

Given what I know about life, which isn’t much, I am surprised every day. Some days it’s that Zoe can recite a Bible verse that she heard once a year ago like she just learned it today. Some days it’s that Toby will actually lay on the floor like a real dog rather than requiring his bed, like the high-maintenance dog that he is. Some days it’s N, who sends me a sweet text that makes me whole day brighter.

I’m constantly amazed by the people in my life and, at times, strangers. This can also go in the other direction, where people lack social graces and common sense, but I’m feeling very “glass is half full today” and don’t want to ruin that.

Rewind to Sunday. We had to run some errands at the mall. Usually we have to do three things at the mall with Zoe:

1. Get a pretzel. It’s a MUST that we get one of these, with cheese dip because walking the mall is so exhausting. In reality, she does need to keep her strength up for the other two things we MUST do.

2. Visit Bark Ave. It’s a pet store in the mall with dogs. Little dogs that look like a chew toy next to Toby. They also go for a minimum of $425, but most are $800 or so. We spend a good 20 minutes looking at the dogs, oohing and aahing over them and then leave with a sad girl who just wants one!

3. Playing at the play structure. It’s my go-to bribe for the lack of dog. Plus it wears her out, I can sit and watch and we’re all happy when we leave.

Of course we went to get a pretzel after we did some shopping for N. On the way to the pretzel place, we got very sad. The dog store is gone. As in, it’s as though it never existed. For all I know, it’s been gone for a year because I try to avoid the mall at all costs. Oh how the junior high me would grieve right now.

We got our pretzel and decided to walk over to Kohl’s since I needed some things. The play structure is outside Kohl’s on the main level. We decided to walk on the upper level to avoid Zoe seeing the play structure. Outside Kohl’s on the upper level is a new pet store. I use the term “pet” very loosely. None of these are pets to me. They are the things of nightmares. If one is in my house or garage, I will not inhabit said house until it is removed.

Of course I’m talking about snakes or, as the store referred to them, “reptiles.” Apparently they aren’t just selling snakes, they have lizards too. Meat-eating lizards. It’s not that this is in the mall, but the whole store front is a BIG cage for these reptiles. Mainly their prized reptiles. Just being within 10 yards of this store, my skin goes cold and I have a physical reaction. I’m not terrified of many things, but reptiles are at the top of my list.

Truthfully, they just freak me out. I can’t even look at pictures of reptiles without feeling something physical. Actually it’s more of a “WARNING! Danger! Run away!” I don’t know what it is either. I’ve never really come in contact with one, except on a high school trip. I’ll save that story for another day. It involves N killing a rattlesnake and keeping the rattler. I found the rattler after we were married, 13 years later in a Bubble Tape container. To say I almost sharted myself would be an understatement.

Back to the mall...typically Zoe will take a wide birth around this store. She isn’t a fan of it when she’s with grandma at the mall. It kinda freaks her out.

That is until she has daddy with her. Of course, when N saw the store, he practically ran. He loves all things reptile. If he could have a lizard and a snake as pets, he’d be all over it before I finished the sentence. Because he loves me and doesn’t wish to end our marriage, he’s willing to let go of that dream and just visit reptile stores.

N told me to wait outside the store, in front of the large cage and he’d be right out. Zoe yells, “wait for me daddy!” She LOVED it. She wanted to see all the snakes and lizards. She couldn’t wait to tell me that she saw a snake that was bigger than her, both in length and weight! I got a little woozy.

I’m so glad she has a daddy who will show her all the things I won’t. What works in my favor is that Zoe likes to go see them with her daddy, but doesn’t want them at her house. She’s still got a little of me in her!