At the spa, a neighbor gave another
neighbor a fashion magazine which she
had finished reading or, more at it, look-
ing, dreaming, desiring, gawking, lusting,
coveting… all or none of the above, who
knows? Seriously, who cares? She did
ask when giving the gift, “When you have
finished, tear off the address and shred
it for me, would you? Can’t be too care-
ful these days.” Two handbags which
looked about the right size to carry most
things needed — $2,000 each. A pair of
clogs presumably for slogging slowly
along the plaza on the way to lunch at
the bistro or to the beach, perhaps, or
window shopping or all three before three
or just desiring to be seen or catching
one’s image reflected in a window or
every window — $2,000. Or life back at
the ranch with sufficient rooms so no one
really need interact, as the ad states
so affirmatively, assertively, comfortingly
in that baritone voice — priceless.