Yes - We Have RESORT!
Walking on the main shopping drag of the community I call home, I was struck by an incongruous sight. On what dawned as arguably the coldest morning of the season so far, the most popular children's boutique in the area had a window display featuring baby-size mannequins sporting the latest in pint-sized tankinis, cover-ups, and various other warm-weather fashion. A sign outside proudly proclaimed:
The store was mobbed.
I found this depressing on just so many levels.
1. I have no plans to travel anywhere warm. Anytime soon. Anytime at all, for that matter. It's bad enough to see my friends pack up for warmer climes in January - but it's November. Can't I catch a break? It's depressing enough to see all the resort merchandise when winter is in full swing, but it's far more depressing to envision the sandy beaches I won't be visiting - before winter has even officially begun.
2. (And you knew this one was coming) How obscenely materialistic of a neighborhood do I live in that its denizens are flocking to a store to be among the first to purchase infant-sized bikinis??? In freaking 40-degree weather?? It's not the close to 100 bucks a pop that some were spending on swim attire that is all of a few square inches. Hey, it's their money. It's the fact that people truly seem to revolve their lives around the release of the resort-wear that their children will be modeling - to the point that they can think bathing suits after the first chill of the season. It just gets to me.
We have RESORT!
I found this depressing on just so many levels.
1. I have no plans to travel anywhere warm. Anytime soon. Anytime at all, for that matter. It's bad enough to see my friends pack up for warmer climes in January - but it's November. Can't I catch a break? It's depressing enough to see all the resort merchandise when winter is in full swing, but it's far more depressing to envision the sandy beaches I won't be visiting - before winter has even officially begun.
2. (And you knew this one was coming) How obscenely materialistic of a neighborhood do I live in that its denizens are flocking to a store to be among the first to purchase infant-sized bikinis??? In freaking 40-degree weather?? It's not the close to 100 bucks a pop that some were spending on swim attire that is all of a few square inches. Hey, it's their money. It's the fact that people truly seem to revolve their lives around the release of the resort-wear that their children will be modeling - to the point that they can think bathing suits after the first chill of the season. It just gets to me.
posted by orthomom at 5:17 PM
36 Comments:
I know how you feel. It was like that for us at a similar stage in life. God willing you'll reach middle age and your children will be the ones pressing their noses to the window while you go on vacation.
LOL! I know just the store. Winter coats for 400 dollars, no thank you!
I know just the store. Winter coats for 400 dollars, no thank you!
I think we are talking about the same store. But somehow, the 400$ winter coats don't bother me - in the winter. When I see locals snapping them up during an August heat wave, that's weird.
My son just pointed out that chic women buy 6 months ahead.
Please. there are chic women who buy at target and h&m. itsall about style, not cost.
100% kids, right? you didnt mention the extreme pressure to buy that you are subjected to whenever you walk in there. that place is so five towns.
I know the store as well. I walk in confidently, thinking I'll buy an outfit for my son for a wedding, then slink out after seeing the cost.
What completely floors me is the latest trend of women purchasing designer Burberry, Armani, etc clothes for their kids. Why? Seriously. They grow out of them in three minutes.
As an aside: I really hate little girls in those bikinis. Tankinis are cute, but bikinis on toddlers freak me out.
:::weird:::
oh take a break. whats the problem about being materialistic. orthodox judiasm is enough of a burden, whats wrong with people taking their minds off of it and having some fun shopping?
stop complaining about others and look at yourself. youre just a jealous nag.
oh i feel so bad for you, and your sacrifices. stop making it everyone elses problem that they dont worship the ground you walk on!
Enough is enough- how about taking a good look at your identity and taking it as advice? Enough with the jealousy bit. Not everyone is jealous of the wealthy. Some people are Bisameach B'chelko. Orthomom was commenting on the wackiness of the situation she observed. She did not say that she wishes she was in there shopping with the best of them! When you comment on a bag lady or bum in the street and you comment on the crazy situation, does that comment automatically proclaim you to be jealous?
oh i feel so bad for you, and your sacrifices
Did OM ever say she sacrifices anything? You sound like a big kvetch. If you don't like the heat in the kitchen (and it seems as if you dislike it greatly) then get out. I would not spend any time reading blogs by people who write things that I usually disagree with. If that's your thing, get help!
P.S. ORTHODOX JUDIASM IS NOT A BURDEN, IT WAS A GIFT BESTOWED UPON US BY G-D. IT IS OUR PLEASURE TO SERVE HASHEM TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY!!
its so pleasurable that you only can complain all the time about others finding pleasure in things other than what you love.
and OM is complaining. ask her. she is complaining about those materialistic people (of whom she is not one of).
want to convince yourself youre enjoying yourself much, be my guest, but its pretty pathetic when you have to look for things to make yourself feel superior. they like shopping. so freakin what.
enough is enough:
Chill out, man. You have GOT to stop taking so seriously what is obviously a lighthearted poke at one of the absurdities that make the 5T the community that it is. Get over your righteous indignation.
om
sorry, misread your tone.
but look at the concience comment. they read your post as i did. and they felt good that you seemingly attacked the materialism of the shoppers.
well, I did poke fun at the materialism - but only because I feel that the visual of moms in down jackets snapping up 100-dollar swimsuits was just too much not to mention. But I think "attack" is too strong of a word.
And your conscience said much of the same - that there was no jealousy here, simply a comment on a "wacky situation". Which, trust me, it was. People can spend as much as they want on whatever they wish. It's just that sometimes, in the 5T, people are a bit conspicuous about it. It gets to be funny, or tedious, depending on one's mood.
why does is "get to you"?
live and let live, laugh at it, and move on.
If you have so many issues with this "obscenely materialistic" community, why are you still here? If you hate it so much, stop complaining and go elsewhere. Your not helping anyone by whining about how bad it is, least of all yourself.
100% kids, right? you didnt mention the extreme pressure to buy that you are subjected to whenever you walk in there. that place is so five towns.
Your point being? Are we not in the Five Towns? Are they not catering to the Five Towns? Helllllllllllllo? Wake up......This is where we chose to live, such is life get used to it.
I know the store as well. I walk in confidently, thinking I'll buy an outfit for my son for a wedding, then slink out after seeing the cost.
You pay for quality, but if you can't afford it, buy only when it goes on sale. Their prices for these outfits are not any higher than buying these same outfits in any other store. Don't fault the store for carrying the brands the customers want to buy. They carry high-end quality merchandise and their prices are in-line with anyone else selling the same items.
oh take a break. whats the problem about being materialistic. orthodox judiasm is enough of a burden, whats wrong with people taking their minds off of it and having some fun shopping?
Are you kidding me? Why complain about the Five towns, do you think only Five town kids where Burberry and Lilly? Take a walk in Boro Park and Williamsburg. I agree, get off your high horse and if you were a truly frum jew you would stop turning your nose up at everyone and stop judging them.
P.S. ORTHODOX JUDIASM IS NOT A BURDEN, IT WAS A GIFT BESTOWED UPON US BY G-D. IT IS OUR PLEASURE TO SERVE HASHEM TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY!!
Does serving Hashem mean judging the people you disagree with? Why is everyone so quick to judge?
You are right if you are not thinking one season in advance, but don't forget that Chanuka vacation is just around the corner and many people are heading down to Florida!!
"Chill out, man. You have GOT to stop taking so seriously what is obviously a lighthearted poke at one of the absurdities that make the 5T the community that it is. Get over your righteous indignation."
how do phrases "I found this depressing on so many levels"... "It's depressing enough to see...but it's far more depressing..." and "it just gets to me" signal 'a lighthearted poke' at materialism.
there is more i could have quoted, but if you intended your post to be a 'lighthearted joke' then you really have to improve your diction.
Winter jackets. Hah, that is part of why I live in LA. 80 degree weather in November. We're desert people.
om
looks like i touched a nerve here.
its become very acceptable for orthodox jews to look down at anyone who is gets pleasure from life.
it seems ojs think our lot in life is to be miserable and thank god for being miserable.
it stems from the attitude taught in the yeshivas that we jews are superior. an easy target is those who pursue some pleasures in life. that is dismissed as materialism.
high tuition, without financial transparency is not the target. but the yeshivas do an excellent job of brainwashing us to attack each other. if we make buying nice clothes a crime, then we can justify high cost of tuition.
wake up. Orthodox Judiasm is a burden.
and high tuition is the problem, not materialism.
Everyone on this thread that is saying that they walk into the store look at the prices and then skulk out, and then in the next breath are criticizing other people for spending that kind of money.Are just jealous. You went into the store something intrigued you, you looked at the price thinking maybe you would buy it and then realized that you couldn't or you shouldn't. Don't criticize other people because they can and they will.
I chooses not to spend those prices (maybe just on sale) but if I criticized other people who did I am just kidding myself.
these reactions are too stupid. this post is a very funny observation of one of the funnier and more absurd parts of life in the five towns. everyone should get off easch others case about the materialism jealousy. Come on. Buying bikinis for litttle kids in November is funny and way you slice it. i am sure the people buying them would even see how funny it was if someone pointed it out.
This early shoppping phenomenon reflects a sad reality. Lots of women in the 5T seem to have time and money but nothing purposeful to do. So intelligent, resourceful women turn their energies to perfect wardroble planning (and fancy appetizers) because these are their outlets for creativity and organization.
then you really have to improve your diction.
If anyone needs to improve their diction it's the person responsible for a sign that reads "We Have Resort."
As for the post, another dead-on observation regarding five towns super materialism. And coming on an already depressing day reminding us that winter is right around the corner, depressing indeed.
"This early shoppping phenomenon reflects a sad reality. Lots of women in the 5T seem to have time and money but nothing purposeful to do. So intelligent, resourceful women turn their energies to perfect wardroble planning (and fancy appetizers) because these are their outlets for creativity and organization."
9:33 AM
Because spending your time and "energy" writing on a blog makes you so much more above all that.
If these people were only materialistic that would be a problem. But I am very sure that if you looked at these people's finances you would see not only bikinis you would see 50k+ yeshiva tuition, plus a host of tzedakah and chesed. So get off their backs. Why dont you write about the good things in our community. You will get much less lashon harah on you blog and give the people of the 5 towns to be proud of.
Anonymous said...
If you have so many issues with this "obscenely materialistic" community, why are you still here? If you hate it so much, stop complaining and go elsewhere. Your not helping anyone by whining about how bad it is, least of all yourself.
Allow me to paraphrase:
If you have so many issues with my "whining", why are you still here? If you hate my blog so much, stop your complaining and go to another blog. Your [sic] not helping anyone by whining about how bad my blog is, least of all yourself.
i'm not anon. 12:15, but i have to say, your response is terribly asinine and childish.
Anonymous said...
i'm not anon. 12:15, but i have to say, your response is terribly asinine and childish.
Yes. That was the point. Because it's asinine and childish to suggest that if I am bothered enough to write about aspects of my community that I find upsetting, I should consider moving.
Honestly Frum:
A "yirei shamayim" and materialism don't go together. According to the Torah one is not allowed to be a ba'al gaivah, nor are they allowed to "poke peoples eyes out" lest they be guilty of "lifnai ivur"...
I'm wondering which store you mean. I live right off Central Ave. so I should be right near it. I don't want to miss out on the latest in toddler bikinis. Just kidding. I never dressed my daughters in bikinis at all. I used to get their bathings suits for $4 a piece at Children's Wearhouse in Clifton (when we lived in the area -- I din't drive there from here) They were cute enough and served the purpose.
Hi all!
Christmas Day falls on December 25. It is preceded by Christmas Eve on December 24, and in some countries is followed by Boxing Day on December 26. Some Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate Christmas on January 7, which corresponds to December 25 on the Julian calendar. December 25 as a birthdate for Jesus is merely traditional, and is not thought to be his actual date of birth.G'night
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