Memory Lane Friday - Shopping

Memory Lane Friday is a weekly blog carnival where you can blog about your memories and link up.  Everyone is welcome.  This week's topic, in honor of Black Friday, is shopping.

I have to say, I think Black Friday has gotten completely crazy.  I have never been (and likely never will be - unless I get konked on the head by a falling piano and endure a complete personality change) a Black Friday shopper.  And this year?  Stores opening at 3 am?  The crowds and wrestling over the last Snuggie?  So yeah.  You all go have fun!  I'll be in bed asleep. 

Nope, I'm one of those annoying prepared persons.  I do my shopping throughout the year.  By Thanksgiving, most of the time all my gifts are purchased and already wrapped (weirdo!).  If I still have a few last minute gifts, I tend to order them online, as I avoid the store crowds at all costs.  And NO WAY would I be out on Black Friday!

My most memorable shopping experience is from when I was about 10 years old.  As a kid I had asthma (still do, actually, but it rears its head very rarely now, thankfully).  My mom and my grandmother and I went to do some Christmas shopping.  We walked into a department store (I don't recall which one) and were headed towards the mall interior when we encountered a demonic sales lady in the perfume section.  She spritzed, directly at us, Giorgio perfume.

Instantly, my eyes teared up and my throat started closing.  I felt like I couldn't breathe and began coughing.  And coughing and coughing and coughing.  An asthma attack!  I was allergic to Giorgio - and we'd had no idea.  I walked faster and faster, trying to get away from the perfume and struggling to breathe.  It took a good while before I could catch my breath, and I remember being terrified that I wouldn't be able to breathe again.

Perfumes don't typically bother me (well, the really bad ones give me a headache ;-)) but even today, if I catch a whiff of Giorgio it starts closing up my throat. 

Want to link up for Memory Lane Friday? 
Come back next week - there's no theme so anything is possible!  :-)