My mother was right — Nordstrom is the absolute best store around …

My mother was right — Nordstrom is the absolute best store around …

I think my mother was the wisest woman in the world.

She taught me how to set a table so it looked appealing — how to fold napkins the prettiest ways, how to cut sandwiches, — even  how to put my hand on my dance partner’s shoulder the same way her favorite ballerinas did.  How did she know?   She taught me how to make salad dressing, how to inscribe books, how important it was to be on time and what it means socially when you make someone wait.  (Wait a second–  that’s what my father taught me — he never wore a watch till later on and he rarely was late without cause!)

Now, not very many people know that my wonderful mother, who died on April 5, 2012, at 95, happened to be a huge Nordstrom fan…

When she was succumbing to Alzheimer’s, along with a life-long heart condition — after decades of being a bookworm — only two types of reading material held her attention:  New York Times wedding announcements and  Nordstrom catalogs.

When Nordstrom opened a branch in New Jersey, my parents were in their eighties, I think.   My dad, a true gentleman and scholar, too, would bring a book and and read, while my mother shopped. They crossed the bridge so my mother could spend time in her new favorite store.  (She discovered Nordstrom when I moved to Oregon in 1983.)

Well, last night, I went over to Nordstrom for a much needed new bag.  And met Angela and Isabella. We had so much fun!  Angela helped me pick out a Michael Kors bag — it’s so lovely! Mandarin. I think it’s called Kempton.

“Yes, Mommy — you were right.   Nobody makes shopping more enjoyable than Nordstrom.”

Thank you for bringing me so much joy!

 

 

P.S.  My mother and I occasionally disagreed.  I insisted that Bonwit Teller was the nicest store in New York — and was crushed when it got crushed– but we both adored the Bird Cage at Lord & Taylor and always shared a Broadway ice cream soda after we got our clothes shopping out of the way.   Plus, everyone knew that was where Greta Garbo shopped.   Never saw her, but I once ran into Richard Burton buying somebody a nice treat at Bonwit’s… Bonwit’s  got crushed?  www.flickr.com/photos/65359853@N00/4513668633/

A Broadway ice cream soda?  tastykitchen.com/recipes/drinks/broadway-soda/

 

 

 

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