To Market, To Market...

As children, when Mom left to go anywhere by herself, we'd always demand, "Where are you going?" as if we feared she'd never return, and she'd usually answer, "Crazy, you wanna come?" Of course, we always wanted to come - outings of just about any kind were opportunities to pester her for treats.

She would then tell us, with a roll of her blue eyes, "You've got a case of the gimmes!"

As we neared home after a shopping expedition, she'd recite this little rhyme:

"To market, to market
To buy a fat pig,
Home again, home again,
Jiggety jig!"

Today, I didn't bring home the whole pig, just two nice bone-in pork chops and, for once, I didn't go out in the car. Instead, I walked down to town to do my shopping. The walk down isn't bad, just four blocks - it's the walk back up our very steep hill that's testing. Usually, I have a cup of coffee and time to be leisurely so I can stop and gasp if I need to.

I got to try out my latest toy, too, a $20 purchase from Pier One, this light, maneuverable basket on wheels. I had seen a fancier one at the Marin Farmer's Market one day and, struck with immediate Basket Envy, inquired of its owner where she got it but she had purchased hers in France. Mine was made in the Philippines. I was thrilled to find it and a lovely, useful thing it is.

The handle is smooth bamboo, curved just right for my hand and exactly the correct height for my stature, which ain't much. It has a nifty little back iron loop to keep it upright when stationary and it's deep enough to hold lots of stuff. The wheels are wooden and they squeak; they rumble over the sidewalk and chirp a cheerful little shopping song as it rolls along behind me.

Another of my mother's sayings, when I'd ask "What for?" for the nth time. She'd say, "Cats for to make kitten's britches, have you ever seen them on dogs?" Oh, Mo-o-o-o-o-o-m!