Now Here’s the Plan

Honestly, I couldn’t help myself.

Have you ever desired something so deeply that you were willing to compromise your sense of ethics in order to obtain it? No, of course you haven’t. But I did, and I was no more than eight years old at the time, when I devised my own little Ocean’s 8 certain to succeed scheme. That’s what burning desire will do.

As far back as I can remember, I have always loved clothing and anything that had to do with accessorizing an outfit. Shiny patent leather shoes, colorful hair ribbons, and fishnet stockings. I was all in.

The night before a special occasion or going-back-to-school was as celebratory as the event itself. Nothing gave me greater happiness than displaying my newly purchased clothing on my twin size bed. This was, and still remains, my absolute Nirvana.

As a young girl, I received my fair share of birthday invitations. However, it was one party in particular that opened my eyes to the true meaning of the word, accessorize.

I arrived at my friend’s birthday party with her gift in hand, wearing a freshly ironed dress, securely placed barrette, and my favorite pair of dress shoes. Once the celebration began, I looked forward to eating cake and ice cream. When it came time for the birthday girl to open her gifts, all the little girls sat cross legged on the carpet floor trying to imagine what was inside each gift.

My attention at some point began to wander, that is, until the second to the last gift was opened. From inside the beautifully wrapped box, the birthday girl removed the cutest purse I had ever seen in the shape of a fuzzy black poodle dog. I nearly lost my composure. Never had I ever in my eight years been so completely captivated by an item. 

That evening, all I could do was think about the fuzzy black poodle purse with the petite black shoulder strap. The following day, I was once again consumed with desire for this purse. With each passing day, my desire did not fade, right up until the arrival of my birthday.

Now, care to guess who I invited to my birthday celebration with the hope that I, too, would soon be the proud owner of a fuzzy black poodle purse? That’s right, the best gift-giving girl in the entire world.

When my birthday finally arrived, I was filled with pure excitement. I couldn’t wait for my party guests to arrive. And when it came time for the poodle purse girl to hand me her gift, I was literally shaking in my white go-go boots.

With great anticipation I untied the bow and opened her gift, but to my surprise, it wasn’t the cute fuzzy black poodle purse. The nicely wrapped gift with the beautiful bow turned out to be a children’s jigsaw puzzle! My heart sank, however, I politely thanked my guest. And when it came time for my birthday cake, I had no appetite for my just desserts. 

Oh, go on and say it. I deserved what I got. I know what I did was wrong, but honestly I couldn’t help myself. This was a learning moment.  Certain life lessons are best learned through experience. This little scheme of mine fooled no one. In the years to come, I made doggone certain to obtain whatever little incidental item I coveted, in an honest and honorable fashion.

No matter what a person may desire in life, it all comes down to whether or not they can live with themselves based upon their actions and decisions. Obtaining any material item, or for that matter, friendships under false pretenses is the antithesis of integrity. A life well lived involves a measurable amount of integrity. And if this virtue is missing from an individual’s life, their soul will never know peace, nor will it find proper rest.