lutece

i talked to my sister for a while on the phone reflecting on mother's day past. one mother's day a long, long time ago, i was in elementary school, and i wanted to get something "grown up" for mother's day. i had planned ahead and saved portions of my lunch money and some money i collected as i picked up leaves and petals for my elderly neighbor across the street.

i collected about $10 dollars, and it was time to buy something...so, what was an elementary school boy supposed to do? i did the only thing i could do. i went to albertson's to look for perfume. now, mind you, this was back in the late 80's...so $10 was a lot of money.

a friend and i rode our bikes to the store, and star

ted to look around. i dunno who came up with the idea, but we decided that perfume was going to be the gift. i gathered all the "adultness" inside me, and i asked one of the store workers to open up the glass case that held all the perfume.

my friend and i smelled about 4 different ones, and i settled on one. it was called Lutece, and it was about $7! what a steal to be able to find the perfume you like at a reasonable price!

perhaps i am over dramatizing it, but i remember when she opened the package, she had such a look of joy that her son got her something for mother's day. she loved it. she would wear it to church, on special occasions, and i was so proud when she wore it. since she wore it so sparingly, she would still wear it years and years later, and that wonderful smell would fill the room and car.

to be honest, i dont know why or how i came to the conclusion that this one was the best. years later, i smelled it, and it wasnt quite what i remembered. okay, it was pretty bad. i actually cant believe she wore it, but that was my mom. she loved whatever i gave her...b/c it was from me.