Finally, moving-in day! With my bed and my desk (the only two pieces of furniture I could really put in my room) was scheduled to be delivered before lunch today, my mother and I took the cab to my new apartment in Brooklyn.

I was so excited, I almost did not notice that my mom’s eyes were misting. It was like first day of kindergarten once again. “I’ll be alright, mom,” I said.

“I know,” my mother said. “But, today is the last day that you are little girl. The next time I see you, you will be an adult. Just remember that you will always be my baby, no matter how grown up you get.”

For the first time, I understood why she did not want me to leave San Francisco, my father and her wanted me to be their little girl a little longer. They already have accepted that I was precocious but for me to move out when I was only 16 was also to acknowledge that I had grown up.

“I promise to call, text message or email everyday,” I said.

“Thanks,” my mother hugged me. “But, don’t promise because you wont’ be able to keep it. You will be so busy with your new life; you won’t know what to do. Your father and I trust you. You will do the right thing. Just drop as a line to tell us that you are okay? And yes, a text message, an email and especially a phone call will be greatly appreciated.”

Now, the next thing that happened either interrupted that good mood or added to it, because when we walked in my new apartment, we could barely see Imadge amidst 100 pairs of shoes, at least.

“From Target,” Imadge said matter-of-factly, answering my unasked question. “I have a photo shoot tomorrow and I asked Target for a few pairs to choose from. Generous as they are, they sent all of this. Now, not only do I have to pick which ones will match the outfits best, but I have to bring them to the shoot.”

“Let me help,” my mother said. To my surprise, she started trying them on and actually modeling them for Imadge. We ended up with about 15 pairs that Imadge can bring to the shoot tomorrow, while the rest went back to their boxes to be sent back.

“Hmm… that was fun,” my mother said. And that was another surprise for me because I have never seen her wear anything but Salvatore Ferragamo since I was little. Perhaps, Target is really fashionable if it could please my mother’s discerning taste in shoes.

[MILAN WESTIN]

Photos courtesy of Target, click on image to see bigger photo