Little Red Riding Hood

I have long ago come to the conclusion that jewellery could be a much better and cheaper interest than others. Too bad I don't like jewellery. Any hobby or interest can turn into an addiction and a weakness. And, in my case, along with books it's mountain gear. I can go and look at stuff over and over again. And I never stop craving for more. As well as for more time out there in the hills.

A couple of days ago I went to town with some clear tasks. I had to send some paperwork to the shipping company in order to get my bike back in Canada. The details of this story are too many and upsetting to get into them. Fact is that my bike shipped from CapeTown more than 2 months ago is stuck in US customs. And then I was supposed to buy some vegetables and bread.

After getting the first task done I was on my way to the market when I walked by an outdoor gear store. The temptation was too big and I had to enter and inspect the sleeping bags, climbing shoes, etc. The store didn't carry the fuel cartridges for my new little stove and so I was advised to try another store.
The next store had more stuff and also the fuel and I was happy to buy it. But I opened my wallet to fetch the money and realized that I only had enough money to pay for it, no money left to buy bread and vegetables.
"Oops, I'm sorry", I excused myself when I suddenly realized the situation. "I guess I'm like little red riding hood. My mom sent me to buy bread and vegetables and instead I got carried away by all this stuff. I'll come back to buy it since I don't have enough money with me now".
The salesman looked at me startled and, hopefully, amused :-) And shortly after I found myself laughing out loud on the street remembering the scene...

How old am I? Darn, I should carry a mirror with me all the time. It's only when I look in the mirror that I am reminded and realize that, yes, I am forty even though I mostly feel like a teenager.