The Quest

Last Christmas a friend of mine gave me some bath products from a store called Lush. I LOVED them, but alas, there is no Lush in Philadelphia. There is one in DC and one in NY, but not in Philly. So, ever since I moved here I have been meaning to go. Lush is located at 34th and Broadway right on my train line, so it would be very convenient for me to go.
Today, for some reason I decided to go after work. I guess I had a case of amnesia regarding the Republican National Convention because 34th and Broadway puts me smack dab in the middle of the mess. I naively got off at 34th to find police blocking the 34th and Broadway exit. (It still doesn’t dawn on me what this might be about.) So, I roll my eyes, mutter to myself, and walk to another exit. When I surface, low and behold it seems the less sane half of the world is all there: the streets are barricaded, police are every where and TV cameras abound. I figured that I already spent the $2 to get there, I might as well experience this piece of life going on around me, and so I continue the Quest. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find a place to cross the street. Everything is blocked off. I can see Lush, I just can’t get there. I end up walking down 35th to 6th to cross the street and come back. On my way back up 35th a caravan of police vehicles come whirring past. The cops jump out simultaneously, keep their doors open and don riot gear. They begin marching toward the crowd I just walked through not 5 minutes ago. When I was there, a few random people were shouting. Now, it was a whole chorus of anti Bush slogans and the police were at the ready. But, I am on a quest so I watch for a minute, thank God for good timing and keep going. I finally get across the street to my mecca of bath products. The lights are on, sales people are inside, but the door is locked. I try it again, thinking, “This can’t be so. When they see I am not a crazed protester, they will let me in and I can experience all the lushness that is Lush.” Just then an exasperated sales person points to a sign on the door. “Lush will close today at 6:00 for inventory. Please come again tomorrow during our regular hours.” AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
THE QUEST WAS IN VAIN!!
Ahh, but no! I am next door to Daffys and Macy’s and H&M. I continued my shopping—but remained slightly distracted because of the lack of Lush-ness in my life.
I will continue the Quest another time. But I think I’ll wait until the RNC is over.