A good friend is expecting her first grandchild and it’s hard not to be caught up in her excitement. I’m pretty sure her daughter is in charge of this event but you wouldn’t know it by talking to the future grandma. When she invited me to a small, family baby shower, I agreed to go, but only because I wanted a cupcake. I’m not a party-of-any-kind person.

The day before the shower, I realized that I probably should take a gift, you know, to trade for the cupcake. It was too late to have something delivered, so I had to go shopping. It would have been easier to go to Bonnie Belle’s and buy a cupcake but I put on a “can be seen in public” outfit and I went to the mall. One of the items on the shower gift registry was a Sherpa baby blanket, which I purchased, along with a book and a gift card. I survived the experience.

As I was driving home, my phone yelled from the backseat of the car, letting me know that I had a text message. I don’t text and drive, so I ignored it. My phone rang. I ignored it. When I walked in the door at home, my landline was ringing but my hands were full and, by the time I got to the phone, it had stopped. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d gotten so much attention and, truthfully, I was worried someone had died!

Y’all know I hate shopping. A few years had passed since my last visit to a mall. The text message and the phone calls were all from my credit card company. They were sending me a fraud alert for unusual spending activity! How’s that for being a few steps beyond normal?