Sabrina - "Shopping in Flin Flon, Manitoba" - Thursday, April 21, 2005
As
it turned out, I was finished work early enough on Thursday, April 21,
2005, to enable me to get "Pretty" and do some shopping while
in Flin Flon! Since my stay up in the north was going to be much longer
than I had thought,
and I was running out of my favorite Avon lipstick, I did have to make
an "Emergency Purchase" :-)
I was ready by 8:30 PM, wearing my black leather mini skirt, pumps, black tights and a shiny blue blouse, and anxiously headed out the door!. The Wal-Mart is just down the street from the Victoria Inn where I was staying so I was there by 8:35! It was a bright sunny evening in Flin Flon, about +10 C with very little wind. I parked in the middle of the parking lot, got out of my van making sure my skirt was straight and proudly walked through the parking lot to the door! I did notice a few guys checking me out, and one quickly turned when I smiled at him!
Walking inside, hearing my heels clicking on the tile floor was such a wonderful feeling. To be so far away from home, dressed how I wanted to be, and having places to go and simply experience life. Just like in every Wal-Mart, the cosmetics section was close to the entrance and was my first stop. There were a few teenage girls browsing the isles and I did get a sense they were wanting to get a closer look. Yet there were no giggle, comments etc, other than about what they were seeing on the shelves. One of the Wal-Mart staff members politely asked if there was something she could help me find. I explained I found what I was looking for, a tube of red Maybelline "Wet Shine" lipstick (I just love the "wet look"), and was just looking for whatever else would catch my eye. I spent about fifteen minutes walking through the cosmetics department and you can bet I had a smile on my face. I was a happy GIRL!
With my lipstick and some eye shadow pallets in hand I asked one of the staff members if I had to pay for my purchase in the cosmetics department or could I do so at the main checkout. Her reply was that I could pay for it in the department and then she called out to another staff member working in another isle "Do you want to help her or do you want me to???" She used the word "Her". Since I have know way of knowing what she is thinking when she is looking at and talking with me, by her using the reference "Her", simply shows that she accepts me as I am presenting myself. A female out shopping for cosmetics. Plain and simple!
I spent the rest of the time in Wal-Mart walking around just looking for anything, purses, tops to go with the many skirts I have, enjoying the feeling of being a girl out shopping. In all my years of dressing while on my business trips I had always dreamed of doing things like this, yet always thought I'd never be able to. Thanks to the support and encouragement of so many people, I am able to enjoy life as I had always dreamed! Even if it is only a "part-time" thing.
Without finding anything that jumped out at me saying "Buy me Buy me" I headed for the door when they announced the store was closing, and proudly walked through the parking lot and into the beautiful sunset that was cast over Flin Flon! I did notice one guy whom I had spotted checking me out inside the store was walking through the parking lot getting a cramp in his neck looking my way. So I relieved it for him by turning and giving him a smile. He turned his head with an "Oh damn, she caught me" look. And I got in my van and left! Of course making sure he wasn't still keeping an eye on me. A girl has to be "Security conscious" when she is out. And that goes for ALL girls, not just us girls!
Since there was still a lot of daylight I went back to the Flintabbatey Flonatin statue for some more pictures. I got another pic of me with the statue in the background, and one in front of the Flin Flon train station, which is now a "Museum Piece"!
Sabrina at the Flin Flon train station!
Now it was time for dinner! Since I love chinese food, and since the waitress at the Hong Kong Restaurant made me feel so welcome in her restaurant I went back! She remembered that I was from Winnipeg and asked if I was enjoying my stay in Flin Flon, making very pleasant conversation. There was a couple in the restaurant having a meal while I both sat and walked about looking a paintings on the walls. Well, who am I kidding?? The walls also had large mirrors, so yes I was enjoying what I saw on the walls :-) When my take-out order was ready the waitress commented to make sure I come back when I visit Flin Flon again and of course I said I would! Walking down Main Street in Flin Flon for a second evening out was such a thrill. To experience life in a mini skirt and heels. And in a small northern Manitoba mining town of all places!!
Thanks for reading my story,
Sabrina
E-mail me at sabrina_markes@masquerade.ca
Member of the Winnipeg support group - "Masquerade"