Summary

David notes that, in big families at least, relationships shift over time as people go through different phases of closeness with one another. In January 2016, David, Hugh, and his sisters Gretchen and Amy travel to Tokyo together. Shopping is the Sedaris's favorite activity and their favorite shops offer particularly outrageous styles. Unlike their siblings Paul and Lisa, David, Gretchen, and Amy love shopping. David cannot imagine not buying souvenirs for his partner when traveling, while Lisa and her husband do not even exchange Christmas gifts. David had to teach Hugh to appreciate shopping as his mother considers it wasteful and "unserious," favoring museums over stores (71). David writes that, "obviously we have some hole we're trying to fill, but doesn't everyone?" (71). And he argues that shopping is much healthier and practical than alternatives like drugs and sleeping around. Plus, David enjoys the social...