Mall Sitter

Today I have had the good fortune to spend a good part of my time as a Mall Sitter.  That is what I get to do whenever I am invited to accompany my daughter and teenage grandaughters on a shopping expedition.  There was a time (just a few years ago) when I could maintain my stamina and keep up with their pace as we wandered in and out of ALL the stores in the Mall.  They have always been more attracted to those stores with the loudest music which is also fast-paced.  When we moved from store to store, there would be different music in each area.....none was calm and soothing...........no, the music and the rhythm had to be loud and fast in order to keep the teens hopping among the various stores. These stores were all alike:  jammed with clothes that were arranged in such a way that one had to be a shopping sleuth to find their way among the maze.  I believe you could leave a child in there for a week before someone found them!  After several years of this, I discovered the various benches and chairs that were scattered along the walkways of the Mall. 

I have become accustomed to this new method of shopping with them.  I leave them in the store after announcing that I may be reached outside in the comfort zone.  I am usually notified that I am necessary by text message.  I do not worry about losing them at all because I am the keeper of the money.  They would never lose Nana!

And so it is that I have learned to use my time wisely as a Mall Sitter. I have become very observant during my sitting time.  Mall sitting can be an educational experience.  One thing I learned today is that a person's gait belongs to the age one is in.  For example, children do not walk.....they jump, skip or run.  They are always moving forward or side to side and they move quickly.  If they happen to be in a stroller, they want out and they let everyone within 10 feet know that!  Then you have the teens.  They are everywhere.  They are easy to spot because they have cloned themselves in the way they wear their hair and dress.  Jeans, flip-flops, tops that are usually layered. and the same long hairstyle. Most of the teen shoppers are girls and they always come in pairs.  Occasionally I would see a young couple holding hands as they strolled along.  Next were the parents.  The mothers looked tired....they never smiled.  They were too busy trying to quiet the toddler or hang on to another child.  The fathers would usually saunter along beside or behind as though they had not a care in the world.

Finally, I found my category.............the seniors.  Some would waddle as they walked with weight bearing more side to side than forward.  This, of course, depended on the bulk being walked.  They would stop from time to time and look all around. I knew what they were looking for, and it was not for a particular store.  They were busy looking for an empty bench or chair so they could join the other Mall sitters for a while.

Where was Lee while I was shopping?  He was invited to join many of his neighbors and friends for a bonanza birthday bash in our friendly neighborhood.  They had a big BBQ feast.  As I was leaving for my shopping day, I kindly reminded him to carry hand sanitizer and a mask.  He was very abliging and did not seem to be offended by my little hint. (I prefer to not call it "nagging").  He has had quite a week!  Every day  during this past week he has been involved in some type of work.  He is visibly enjoying being able to do some of the work around here.  Not all of his strength has returned, but enough has returned to make him feel comfortable doing some of his chores.  He loves to do anything that is work outside.....tried to convince him that vacuuming, mopping, etc. would be the same as an exercise program, but to no avail for me.

A great week....................even as a Mall Sitter!

More Later.................................Brenda