I bought my first sex toy when I was twenty-one, I was out of my parent's house and on my own. I went to a local store that actually had coupons from a college coupon book.

When I went in, it was very well lit, very clean. As soon as I entered I was greeted with a cheery hello. I was only inside for a few minutes before a salesperson approached me.

I managed to squeak out, "Where are the vibrators?" And he took me right over to them.

He asked, "Can I help you with something in particular?"

I stammered out, "I don't know, ummm I just want to look right now." In reality, I was too embarrassed to ask someone of the opposite gender.

I was shocked and awed at how many there were, and all the different varieties. I was extremely daunted. How on Earth would I pick one?

A few minutes later, a female associate approached me and asked me if I needed any help. Since we were the same gender, I explained how my fingers weren't enough to make me orgasm, and I wasn't sure if I ever had orgasmed. I explained I didn't have a boyfriend, and I had this need, that I needed to fill. I explained I didn't have tons of money. I felt so embarrassed and was actually close to tears.

The sales associate said, "Relax, what you are feeling is perfectly natural. There's nothing wrong with sexual desire. I felt the same way you did when I bought my first one."

She seemed sincere, which made me feel a lot better. She showed me three models, all around the same price (under $20) and she explained a lot of details in an easy to understand way. She spent a long time helping me.

Once it came time to go up to the register, I felt all embarrassed and ill at ease again. The cashier acted nonchalant like someone buying a vibrator happened all the time. (Which of course at that store it would.) And as she rang me up she just spoke of commonplace things.

I've went back to that store several times of the years, and I'm no longer embarrassed to go in there and ask for help. less