i've died and gone to dayton's

the name has changed three times in the last several years but it will always be daytons to me. thirty years ago when i was new to minnesota i had heard about this department store temple, mecca, icon...i had no money back then and my college debt was mounting, but i could share a cup of wild rice soup with a girlfriend in the skyroom. it came with a free popover, cold ice water in thick glass goblets and service that made us both feel fabulously wealthy. all for under ten bucks.

in my early 30's my best friend, frank and i would go to daytons and breathe the perfume, play with cosmetics and browse the sale racks. we would usually end up in the men's department where my darling frank would buy smoothe new packages of white polo briefs (easier than doing laundry). we would look at the jewelry and choose a new scent for him so he would smell good for his new boyfriend. and on our way out, even though i was still strapped for cash, he would pull me to the clinique counter and insist i purchase something because it was give-away-time.

and then we would walk down the center aisle, flanked by lancome and estee and chanel and we would feel so rich under those magnificent fairy tale chandeliers. his boots and my flipflops slapping on the white marble, with beautiful people in pastel smocks behind glittering counters smiling at us; have a great day!

frank and i thought we should design a logo that said

i've died and gone to dayton's

dayton's!



no one did christmas like dayton's. decades ago, the window displays were temporarily given over to puppets and holiday scenes. shiny dollmaker elves tapping a smile onto a doll in one motion, and placing it in a box the next. mrs santa taking cookies out of the oven, then winking and putting them back in. fluffy snow and tiny brass bands -- a wonderland of windows at 8th and nicollet.



i bought my first pair of contacts at dayton's. and pair of faux snake pumps when i could wear that kind of thing. a pink silk suit for a keynote presentation in front of an international audience; and the best little black dress that ever was.



it was a thick jersery material, off the shoulder with a belt and circle skirt -- i looked at it and looked at it and looked at it and it was finally 40% off and in my closet shortly thereafter. we went to the theater together, that dress and i, and out to dinner, and to weddings, and it was that kind of dress that fit me no matter what and looked almighty every time.



it was a sleepy at dayton's today, when i stopped in to pick up a few things for vacation. i wandered all over the 4th floor (lingerie, women/children's apparel, better dresses, bridal salon, beauty shop), choosing items here and there. as i packed up my things in the third or eight dressing room i noticed something was missing.



my purse.



the sales associates who caught me as i blasted from the fitting room went into immediate action.

where were you? which department? did you use any other fitting rooms? let the other sales associates on 4 know that a purse is down! for the love of god, call security!

and most importantly

OMG it was a COACH - we have to find it!

we found it. a very nice woman in one of the fitting rooms picked it up and told me she was going to bring it out to the desk after she finished trying on this one blouse, but she heard me so "OH SHIT". she peeked out the door and said "lose your purse?"

i was so relieved, i thanked her profusely and told her that color looked great on her (which it did).

walking out of daytons up the center aisle i smelled citrus and musk, lilacs and roses, clean linen and pineapple. i had my purse, i had some new shorts and a new bra.

but i can't remember what ever happened with the little black dress.