Tagann Kareem

Ní maith liom ag dul go dtí h-ionad siopadóreachtaí. Níl dith agamsa ag dul go dtí lárionad a ceannaigh bronntanas ar feadh an tréimhse seo na Nollaig. Ach, bím ag scríobh seo agaibh nuair ag suí i mo ghluastain ina h-áit sin anois.

Cén fáth? Bhuel, bíonn dúil leis mo dara mac ag feiceáil Kareem Abdul-Jabbar go "Best Buy" inniu. Tagann Niall ag cur cuairt an imreoir cispheil ardmholta agus an-dearcnaitheach sin anseo. D'imir Kareem leis UCLA agus na Lakers i gCathair na hÁingeal leis na blianta fadaí nuair bhí mé óg. Tugann sé féin uaidh sínúithe go saor.

Níl a fhíos agam má bhailigh dream ag fáil seans ag buail leis Kareem. Ceannaíodh duine go leor Dé Sathairn seo ar chuma éigin. Ní bhíonn airgead spártha i mo theaglach le déanaí. Mar sin féin, bím ag breathnú gach duine ag ceannach ábhar go leor.

Go minic, rompaítear pizza amháin ó Costco. Fanachtar am fada istigh ag tabhairt ach aon rud sin go rialta. Roghfaínn mise féin ag togháil bialann Iodalach!

Ar ndóigh, feicim ach roinnt cheantar siopaí ag imeall lárionad margaidh. Ní fheiceann mé an limistear an mhargaidh go hiomlán. Níl mé ábalta imeacht in aice leis an siopa bhreige, mar shampla.

B'fhéidir, bíonn lá gnóthach ansiúd. Chuala mé ní bhíonn méad leis earraí a bhfuil díol maith orthu faoi deireanach go náisiúnta. Baintear sult as a bhfuil caitheamh ar phócaí níos folamha-- chomh Niall agus mé-- faoi láthair.

Ina dhiadh sin, ní bhfuair Niall a shíniú. Ní raibh sé ticéad speisealta aigesean féin. D'fhág muid ar chéile go mall. Bhí aimsir níos fuar.

Thiomáionn mé ina trachta trom. Thug fear bocht ag marcaíocht ina SUV mór dubh smalóg orainn. Chuir a chailín grá bac orm. Ní bhain muid taitneamhas tráthóna sin ansin.

Waiting for Kareem.

I don't like going off to a shopping center. I have no need myself to go to a supercenter to buy a gift during this Christmas season, But, I'm writing this to you all while sitting in my car at that place.

What's (the) reason? Well, there's a desire for my younger son to see Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at "Best Buy" today. Niall's waiting to pay a visit to that highly acclaimed and very prominent basketball player here. He played with UCLA and the Lakers in Los Angeles for long years when I was young. He himself's giving his autograph for free.

I don't know if a crowd gathered to get a chance to meet with Kareem. Lots of people buying this Saturday anyhow. There's not spare money in my family lately. All the same, I'm watching everyone buying stuff galore.

Often, some are buying only a pizza from Costco. Some wait a long time inside but for that one thing regularly. Choosing for myself I'd prefer an Italian restaurant!

Naturally, I see but a portion of the shopping area at the edge of the greater market location. I cannot view the whole area of the market. I am not able to go off near the toy store, for instance.

Perhaps, it's a busy day over there. I heard that there is not 'an increase in goods that command a sure sale' nationally. Some must take pleasure from emptier pockets-- like Niall and me-- at the moment.

Afterwards, Niall did not get his autograph. He did not have himself a special ticket. We left together slowly. The weather was colder.

I drove into heavy traffic sadly. A thuggish man riding in a big black SUV 'flipped us off'. His female companion cut me off. We did not take away happiness from that afternoon there.