The mall: That big white box that usually has no architectural value and sticks out like an eyesore. I love it more than most people, but less than I love watching Jeopardy. I never fully understood the appeal the mall had for me. Yes, it’s filled with stores, has clothes, sales, perfumes, shoes and things I need and want but that’s not why I like it.
There are a couple reasons why I like the mall. I like the mall because it’s like a casino for younger folk. No clocks, always the same temperature, you could spend hours in it and they always place the food court and washrooms in hard to locate areas. If the mall served alcohol I could only imagine how crowded it would be. When I go to the mall I usually don’t buy anything at all; partially because I’m indecisive and partially because I spend the majority of the time people-watching. I once saw a lady in the mall wearing head-to-toe denim. She was so proud of her jean ensemble. Just beaming! I laughed a bit on the inside when I saw her but mostly felt jealous of her commitment to one type of fabric.
Living in a suburban area there wasn’t much to do. There was one mall, one library that had stacks of large-print Daniel Steel books and retirement homes as far as the eye could see. My idea of fun was going to the mall food court and eating crepes after school. I was a wild-child. I guess that’s another reason why I have such an affinity for the mall. All the memories I have of it. I remember when I was 12 I would go into Music World and think the people that worked there were too-cool-for-school. They all had shaggy hair and band t-shirts. They acted indifferent and slouched. I later realized they were your typical teenagers, but to a 12 year old suburban nerd they were top-drawer (people still say top-drawer? This is 1930?).
I went to the mall today. I didn’t buy anything. I walked around and talked to my younger brother. It was amazing.
You know what else I like: giving blood. I just like watching it shoot out. It’s amazing. I don’t like watching other people give blood but I like seeing my own blood.
