She walked down the store aisle, past where she wanted to be without realizing it. Her mind was lost in memory. The thing about memories, she knew well now, was that they could be very good and uplifting or terribly dark. She held onto all of them though. Each was important in its own way.

Underwear, that's what she was here for. It had been a few months since she had last bought some for her 30 something year old daughter.

Some people thought it strange she still did that bit of shopping for her. In her own mind she echoed those thoughts - it was a little weird. She also knew that we do strange things for different reasons.

Sandy would often tell people about her mother buying under garments for her, which she suspected was a way to gauge that other person. That initial reaction to a bit of private, but safe, info would tell you all that was needed to know about them.

Could that person understand that mother and daughter hadn't always been close?

She and Sandy had fought at one time. Growing up can be the most difficult thing to do, on both sides of a relationship. In the aftermath of anger came distance. Separation though isn't always a bad thing. That time and the weight of memory refines one's view. They influence how we handle other relationships as well.

Later on, when the echo of the shouts had died away and Sandy was more sure of herself, they approached one another again.

It had happened in this very aisle with the two of them shopping for the same thing. Underwear.

That instant lived on in her. The spark that jolted her when their eyes met and the hurt and forgiveness shone with equal measure still hadn't lost any of it's punch. The notion of change was still there but there was also more understanding as Sandy saw her own daughter growing up and knew there would come a day when she would strike out on her own. Each was right and each was wrong.

As only a mother could say, she said, "Those stains are hard to get out aren't they?"

Sandy hissed an intake of breath as she snapped her head around to see if anyone had heard this remark but said, "Mommmmmmm, don't ruin this."

They both laughed at this and she said, "Why do think people come here?

"Besides, it's hard not to speak my mind nowadays, something for you to look forward too."