Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

I went to the Oakland Museum White Elephant sale with a friend.  We go together each year.  She bought a wooden German Christmas ornamental candle thing, about three feet tall, and a box and jewelry.  I bought two baby fabric toys, a Noah's ark and a fire truck.  Also a pillow with a train on it and two sweaters and two pants for the three year old grandson.  I found two small trucks and a logging truck for the two year old grandson.  And a painting for my daughter-in-law's birthday.  A South American woven rug for my younger daughter. And for me, an elephant the size of my palm with tiny forks set in the back.  Strange but beautiful.  And a Spanish/Moroccan carved box with a replica of the lion fountain of the Alhambra courtyard.  I adore the Alhambra and so it will bring back happy memories.  I'm exhausted.  Nine tenths of the warehouse I didn't even see.  As usual, I drooled over the china, useless as I don't entertain and I have no place to even store any of it.  But there was a Turkish plate, small, in bright blue, orangey red and aqua that I desired passionately.  I resisted many "bargains" and though my goal was a street sweeper toy for the younger grandson and there weren't any, I did stick to the practical mostly.  Okay, the elephant is justifyible because I collect them and perhaps only the Alhambra souvenir is frivolous.  But there were so many things I didn't buy, all at mostly $1 to $5.  I would say I had admirable self control.