Morning At the Mall, Part 2

Upstairs, most of the mall walkers were what I’ll have to call elderly. Like me, though I hate to say it, and some even older than that. One woman walked with a cane, but she was walking. Some looked like they needed canes, bent with age. But most were moving right along, doing their brisk daily walk at the mall.

There were groups of women, some talking as they walked, some not. Here and there a single woman or man stepped along, but most of the walkers had companions.

There were couples, more than a few, most looked to be in their 70s or 80s. Some of them held hands, or maybe just held on to each other. Some walkers used their arms to propel themselves. Many people, mostly women, had the sweatshirt around the waist going for them. Many carried water.

Some had done their walking, I believe (maybe I should have checked their shoes), and were taking breakfast at the mall, because although the stores had not yet opened, many of the food places had.

People sat here and there on the benches with their coffee or at the Food Court tables near McDonald’s. Starbuck’s was full. Mrs. Powell’s has eight tables nearby. All occupied. This is before the mall opens, remember. Some people were reading the morning paper. Most were talking. Made me think of those old time cafes in small towns where folks would gather for breakfast. People need a sense of community, I thought as I walked past.

But most people in the mall were not eating. They were walking. And most were heading in the same direction. That is, they walked counter clockwise so that most of their turns would be left turns. Left turns are easier when you’re walking. Anyone who is part of this mall-walking culture would know that.

One pair of walkers caught my eye, mid-thirties, holding hands as they walked. He was a big guy and she was small, but he shortened his steps to match hers. Nice. I saw them upstairs, and I would see them again downstairs, still holding hands, still walking step for step together. Did my heart good.