I'm going Christmas shopping Saturday.  This will most likely be the only shopping excursion I make during the holiday season.  Of course I won't remember everything and I'll make a few harried trips to Wal-Mart but the bulk of the shopping will be done Saturday with no less than 7,853 other people ( I imagine).

Shopping trips of yore were much different.  I suppose if there is an upside of shopping for teenagers it's the fact that there are very few mad-cap adventures looking for scarce toys like 'Tickle-Me Elmo' or 'Power Ranger' crap. I did a lot of shopping for 'Power Ranger' crap. A lot.

My son had two best friends in pre-school, Matt and Trent.  The three of them were inseperable primarily because their Mom's were BFF's. The 3 (Mom's) of us planned a number of outings that Christmas season 11 years ago. The first one I had to cancel out on at the last minute due to a nasty stomach flu. Unfortunately the other two Mom's ran into the deal of the century; they found two 'Saba's' at Toy's-R-Us.  What is a Saba you ask? Read on, dear friend...

Saba is the talking Sabre and advisor of the White Ranger. He was given to Tommy by Zordon for control of the White Tigerzord. A reluctant duo at first, Tommy and Saba finally learned to work together, with Saba quickly becoming the silent partner.

Saba was the thing 5 year old boys dream's were made of, my friend.  Did I mention there were only two?  My heart ached for my little power ranger when they gave me the  news, but I knew in my heart had I been the one to find the coveted Saba I would have snatched it up as well.  The Mom's promised me that we'd find one the following week when the shopping spree would move South to Chattanooga.

As soon as my feet hit the pavement of the Toys-R-Us I was on a mission.  There was no internet back then and no way to know for sure if the toy was in stock... anywhere remotely close. I lept out of the van at a dead run, headed straight for the action figure aisle.  No bother stopping to ask any of the store employees, that would only slow me down, I knew what I wanted. I skimmed the right side of the shelves, nothing, not even a pair of white ranger gloves.

Midway up the left side I saw it. 

It wasn't Saba, but it was close. It was the Dragon Dagger, side kick to the Green Ranger.  For those who didn't know the Green Ranger was the head honcho before the White Ranger took the helm. And I was less than 3 feet from it. My heart began to pound. "How cool would it be for him to have this toy.  My God it's almost vintage."  I grabbed the box with both hands, readying myself to dance a little jig, and then it happened.

From out of nowhere her big 'ol mitt of a hand grabbed the box dead center, "Hey bitch, that's mine."  Whoa. "Bitch?" I murmered.  "You heard me, that's mine." The wooly-mammoth-of-a-woman growled. Aiming to take the high road I said, "Ma'am I'm very sorry but you were no where near this toy, in fact there was no one in this aisle when I picked it up.  I'm very sorry but I have a 5 year old little boy who must have this Dragon Dagger" and with that I turned to leave.  Actually I was prepared to run!

Mrs. Grizzly Adams had a different agenda. She grabbed me by the elbow, spun me around and once again grabbed the box.  At this point my Southern etiquette went out the window.  I clutched the box to my bosom, pushed her hard away from me and made a mad dash to the check out line.  Lucky for me I was quicker than she, coupled with the fact that she'd scared the very bejeesus out of me, I arrived at the check out lane cash in hand and very out of breath.  I turned to see if she'd followed, luckily she hadn't.

I paid for my treasure and waited by the service desk for my friends.  Oh, and there were no Saba's in the store and according to the manager they didn't expect to get anymore in stock until June or so.  I knew my little boy would be disappointed at first then he'd realize he had a toy that absolutely nobody else had.  Of course, he'd also have no idea what that toy really cost... my dignity.

Yes, I'll admit that their 'toys' now are more expensive but rarely is there a gadget they just have to have.  I suppose I shouldn't have been so dead-set on getting that toy but I was.  All the scenario's I'd imagined in my mind revolving around Christmas morning couldn't compare with the awe and wander in his sleepy eyes that day so many years ago.  Dignity or no, it was worth it then, and it still is.