Rochester, NY
6:05 PM
Because the life of a seeker doesn’t pay like the life of a salesperson, I hadn’t walked through the mall in many months. Today I dropped my car off at Circuit City so they could take out the GPS system I tried out. It worked pretty good, but no one was too helpful in figuring out a way to integrate it with my website. But, for trip #2 out west I will definitely get one. It is cool to be able to see on a map, down to the street, where I am, in real time.
I had 45 minutes to kill. I walked around CC, drooling at the TV’s, video cameras, and digital cameras. I had an ace up my sleeve, since my sister is getting me a few things for my birthday. I was able to buy something. Strange what type of power that is, even if all I bought was a $12 pair of headphones. My old ones have so many knots in the chord, each time I take it out to transcribe an interview or at the gym, my blood pressure rises. I walked all around the store, staring at the silver TV’s with the 4 figure prices. Times have changed, buddy.
After I bought the headphones I headed for the rest of the mall. I hate the mall. But I had time to kill, so I walked. My next buying spree was to include some new underwear and under t-shirts. How exciting! I walked past the GAP, Express, and a bunch of stores geared for the ladies. I can see how girls get into credit card debt. They like to shop. They like the mall. And the mall is a candy store for them. Beckoning with Sale signs, and cool new clothes, and whatever else ladies buy.
I walked past a couple of shoe stores and window shopped, like a little kid with my nose pressed up against the glass. I could use some new brown and black shoes. But, not the time. After the book deal I keep telling myself… I passed the Wilson Leather store, Foot Locker, and some knick knack places. I finally found my way into JC Penny’s. I made my way past the perfume area, ever since National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation I have to check out the perfume girls, and up the escalator to the men’s department.
For as much as I despise the mall, I do enjoy shopping. I am known to be pretty good when buying clothes for the ladies in my family. And I have my own buying style for myself. The shopping part of me has taken a long hibernation. I looked at the crinkle shirts?! Crinkle shirts, What is the deal with that? I was told you had to iron everything. I wish that style was in when I was on the road all the time. No need to worry about wrinkles, just pull it out of the bag and voila, ready to go.
There were a lot of pink shirts too. I’ve seen guys wearing them and they don’t look bad, but I am not sure if I am a pink guy. I will wear a purple shirt though and have a couple. My main focus was to find a red shirt. Not blood red, but a deep red, like crimson. That’s a good color for me. I only have one shirt like that.
I am a bargain hunter and found some long sleeve shirts for $4.67. I browsed the racks. There was 60% off and Clearance and Reduced signs everywhere. I milled about. A few things spoke to me, but nothing loudly enough to break the hibernation. After about ten minutes I made my way over to the ever so exciting underwear section. I hadn’t bough T’s in a while. $22 for 3. C’mon. Similar for the underwear. I checked out the Stafford, the BVD, the Jockey, and the Fruit of the Loom. I picked up all of them to check out the pricing on the back. I have 2 Jockey T’s that have been with me forever, maybe since high school, and they are in great shape. When I say great shape, the neck is still in form. The pits are yellow and I have some sort of stain on the chest that a lot of my T’s have (not sure if that’s from leaky fudgesicle’s or a leaky washer I encountered). The Jockey’s are good. I have some off brands and they have shrunk and the necks have warped.
I must say I’ve had enough of my shopping experience. I also lost my shopping patience at about this time at the mall too. I set down the Jockey’s and the Stafford’s. I left empty handed. I have been brainwashed as so many us have. “I’ll check out the prices at Wal Mart.” Those bastards have me. They killed Mom and Pop stores.
I left JC and walked back. I stuck my head in to the Hallmark store where a friend works. She was setting up the Christmas Ornament display. Yes, ornaments. Crazy.
The GPS is out of my car. No more tracking. My travel will subside as I finish the book. The magazine article that will be coming sounds great. I just got the final copy back from the editor today.
So my mall trip made me wish I had the deep pockets I used to have. I could by myself a new wardrobe, my lady friend some new things, and my folks some wears. I could pick up a new TV and some items for my computer. But, after looking at all the hundreds of thousands of merchandise throughout the mall, my shopper stayed sleeping, and I walked out with a $12 pair of headphones…