I met the lovely Sandra C. in downtown Santa Cruz for a cuppa coffee (on the rocks, BLACK, in a BIG cup) away we flew. I had no idea that I was actually in the intermediate class of shopping. We weaved, we jagged, we juked, met wonderful people form "far away" that knew the famous Ms. C, as well, smelled our way through the perfume place (definitely going back....my car smells like heaven), we hit the Shoe Mecca, worshiped, passed around several pairs, regretfully decided that the ones we liked weren't on the Sale rack, so sped off to other unsuspecting establishments of desire. Seventy eight dollar blouse.....BAH! Eighty dollars skirts....DOUBLE BAH! Wait, Ms. C says.....there's this one place where everything is under $15......but we're gonna have to "hoof it". *Sound of Angels Singing*......SILK SKIRTS...$15. Tops.....$10. Annnnnd, a coppery cowboy hat....Now, to back up, I had remarked earlier that "The Cowboy Hat" is a man magnet. Wear one, get at least one "proposal" from SOMEONE. Kiss, Kiss, to Sandra put my cowboy hat on (because it doesn't fit in the bag) head into New Leaf for arugula. Got arugula. Walk to car.....where I SWEAR there were one million cars parked an hour ago. Nope, just the red Camaro......and a group of young men. And the scene went something like this.

Young Man (insert tall child here), "OOOOOO, I wanna go home wit chu". *Kissing sounds"

Me: just....a ....few.... feet......keep your head down (with aforementioned cowboy hat on....they'll never see I'm old enough to be their Mom).

YM, "I betcha she's in da RED camaro"

Me: "crap" as I unlock car and slide sighing in....glowing that I've pulled the ruse off.

"Tap....tap tap....on my window" I roll it down an inch (ok ...2 inches....SMART ONE, ME!)

Now I'm face to face with Junior.......now all his friend's are going to point and laugh!

Without missing a beat he says "Can we exchange numbers so I can take you out sometime?"

*Long Pause, mind racing, COME ON! Grandma! Come up with something really cool....you've raised boys!*

Me: "Ummmmmmm, I can't".

YM "*Clutching his chest* " WHY NOT?" Jus a lil drink (umm you'd need to get an ID, thinks I)

Me: "I'm over my limit and the next one I have to throw back" YES! Putting the car and gear and pulling out (In the mean time of lost all sense of where I am...)

YM.."What's that mean?"

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, once again the Miracle of the Cowboy Hat. Jeez, ladies, it's like the Cloak of Youth or Sensuality or Dumbing Down! I've got to run now, and put the magic hat back in it's plexiglass case. Don't want the fairy dust to fall off all at once....