dual personalities

Well, Daughter #1 here, live from the dining room where my dear mother has just placed a giant bowl of mint M & Ms in front of me. The diet starts tomorrow, as they say.

I hope you all had wonderful Christmases. We certainly did. I received many lovely gifts from a framed antique sampler to a George Caleb Bingham print, to a new tote bag, a miniature garden stool, and a new sleep shirt among many others. But let’s be real, the star of the show is in the photo below. I can’t wait until we are allowed to use reusable grocery bags again because I will be the toast of the Jefferson City Hy-Vee with my Homer Simpson Baggu.

Yes, my darling sister Susie got this at Nordstrom. You read that right. We pondered what it meant that Nordstrom and Baggu partnered to bring shoppers Simpsons merchandise. Are they making fun of us? Are they trying to appeal to nostalgia for a specific age group (but which age group??)? Does being a Simpsons fan have a different connotation now, that of not being a huge nerd? Are these supposed to be gag gifts? So many questions and no answers. But, a great Baggu for this girl.

Then, an even stranger thing happened. My mother and I ventured to Pottery Barn Kids (and Teen) and found Simpsons Pajamas in the after-Christmas discount bin. There were only two pairs left and you bet we snagged one. I could not love these more.

Please share your ideas for what these swanky stores selling Simpsons merchandise means in the comments.

*Homer listing the reindeer in Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire