Have I arrived?

Obviously I have arrived back in Chicago. We had an easy flight back from Heathrow yesterday and the kids behaved beatifully. I suspect this is in part, due to our luck in having so many Ball & Chain-earned air miles that we can fly Business Class. I dread to imagine the scene if they were all crunched up ("MOM, ...he's touching me") and unable to have their seats almost flat. The B&C is making sounds about some type of retirement in a few years, but I'm afraid if the result is a reduction in accummulated air miles, I may well have to put my foot down with a firm hand.

No - the question "Have I arrived?" refers to something far more important. Something that I found amongst my gargantuan pile of mail (term used very loosely there) on my return. A Boden catalogue. It seems old Johnnie is now attempting domination of North America as this is the first time I've seen one of these, and believe me, if there's a catalog out there it's guaranteed to land on my mat.

Over the last four weeks, and in my general keeping-up with all things British, I am highly aware of Boden and all the implications therein. Hence my question -"Have I arrived?". These catalogue people use huge marketing lists to circulate their wares, and I am obviously in some category on one of them to have received the Boden USA version. I don't think I qualify as a Yummy Mummy although there is potential. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak, as they say. I do have a young child, kids in private school and a minivan (people carrier), so that may be what's done it.

Anyway, I flicked through the pages, and yes the clothes are very nice but nothing much different from some other brands in the States such as Flapdoodles, CD Kids and Gap. The prices are exactly the same as in the UK (I checked both web sites) and less expensive than I had imagined. I even looked at some of the women's stuff, which is a little different from what you can get here, so now I'm wondering if it's safe to order a few things before everyone jumps on the bandwagon. (I hate following crowds.) Would that label me? I don't really care that much about clothes, as you'd know if you saw me. What I do hate is, well, being a Boden-type if it's not a good thing. Am I making too much of this?

Over to you folks - I need expert advice here.

Oh, by the way, despite the appallingly soggy start, we had a nice time back home. (More of that to come.)