I loathe shopping.  It is so low on my list of things to do that it's not even on my list.  Never was, never will be.  Am I the only female who feels this way?  I really think I did not have the shopping gene installed in my innermost being while I was being fearfully and wonderfully made.

For example, a premium outlet mall opened up not five minutes away from me about six months ago (I might have that timing wrong), and the entire region of Vera-Bradley-bag-toting women just flocked in record numbers (well, okay, I made up the record numbers statistic, I guess) to spend the day oohing and aahing and spending money, or perhaps just window shopping.  They came from several surrounding states, even, creating massive traffic jams.

Well, today's newspaper had an article announcing all the new stores that are moving into the mall this spring and summer, and it was an impressive list, but it did nothing for *me*. No flash of excitement, no anticipatory drooling, no itchy fingers hovering near my wallet, *nothing*.

Shopping seems to be such big news around my town.  Why can't I connect?  Why don't I feeeeel the looooove?

Yet, actually, upon deeper rumination, I realize I must have a trace of the shopping gene lurking in my DNA ~ I have been known to salivate over homeschool catalogs and new/used bookstores to the point of needing a bib.

Hey, Sojourner, ain't I a woman?!