The Mall

January 2011

It is one o'clock on a Wednesday afternoon in the middle of January; and I pull into the parking lot of our local mall. I find a space and pull in. I set the transmission to drive and pull my emergency brake. Instead of turning the car off and getting out I take a few minutes to take in the sights and sounds of the parking lot without freezing to death due to the 26 degree temperatures.

I look around at the numerous buildings surrounding the mall and I notice that all but two of them look like they were built by the same company, architect or at least in the same era. They are all made of concrete with square lines and large glass windows. As a matter of fact the large white bank with massive plate glass windows strewn across its front looks like a baby cousin of the mall itself. There are fast food restaurants and office buildings and numerous other types of business. This area was obviously designed to fit in with the mall.

I look out and see gray winter clouds invading the sky, pushing the blue south. It's a sign that the forecast of snow is correct. I look out into the parking lot and surprisingly there are a large amount of people. They are all bundled in their winter coats, scarves and toques. Most of them walking briskly. Are they walking fast because of the cold or are they in a hurry to beat the incoming winter weather? I hear cars driving and traffic on the nearby highway. It seems this side of town is a buzz with activity.

I shut of f my car and grab my notebook and I open my door. I am met with a brisk cold wind that wakes me up if there was any slumber at all. My eyes are wide and my ears are open. I hear the sound of kids crying and cars running. It even smells like it's going to snow.

I walk up to one of the sets of glass doors to let myself in. Before I open the door I look in and see a flurry of activity. People are at the fast food places and from one store to the next. I open the door and take a step in. I am met with the immediate aroma of fresh baked break. Oh I love the smell, it's from Subway. This makes me smile. I walk into the mall keeping an eye out on everything and everyone.

I walk up and down one of the corridors to find a comfortable spot to sit and one that has a good view. I sit on a wooden bench, smooth to the touch as it has been stained or varnished to make it this way. I first start by just listening and watching. I can hear shoppers carrying conversations and footsteps on the ground. I can hear phones ringing from inside the stores and movement all around me. I can still smell the bread from Subway. Although, I do not know if the smell travels this far or if I can just still smell the reminisce in my nose. Either way it makes me smile again, I really love that smell!

I look up to one of the larger retailers in the mall and watch the people scurrying from one side of the store to the other. People looking for deals and associates more than willing to help them be found. I look around and notice that the inside of the mall is very symmetrical. The walls and ceilings have identical lines. These lines are the façade and ceiling tiles. They all run in the same direction up the corridor. The florescent lights are evenly spaced and look like they were installed not for mood, but for function. In the background I hear that the mall is playing 80's pop music. Maybe they play this music because it is not offensive to any one person. I know that I am feeling very relaxed and secure. Like any problems that I have are not here. I feel that I can be myself here.

I turn around and look toward center court of the mall. This center court happens to be a play area for children. There is an ambulance, helicopter and what looks to be two square buildings formed into one. They can't be more than four feet tall and are made of a shiny material. I know from experience that they are a soft rubber compound. Their colors are brilliant and differ from one piece to the next. I can hear kids laughing and parents delight. This is a fun place to be.

I take a look around at some of the retailers and see each of their styles represented by their store fronts and what I can see of each store. For example, Bath & Body Works has a wood façade with a red and white plaid canopy. Above that canopy are green lights that hang down and over the canopy. These lights are shining into the windows of the store. Behind the windows instead of seeing into the store there are print ads. Each ad has its own set of string lights as well, maybe to highlight it. This feels very seaboard or ocean like to me. Then I look at our Pro Image, a sports fan shop and it's a totally different mood. There are big blue lights on either sign of their brightly lit blue neon sign that remind me of hockey goal lights. The ones that go off when a player scores. The neon light even reminds me a bit of a score board.

In all I think that this mall is very aesthetically pleasing if you take the time to admire the beauty. It seems that everything that is here and the music that is playing is meant to make you feel secure and relaxed. Maybe they do this to play on your emotions that you spend a little more money than you expected because you felt more secure and able. I walk through this mall 5 days a week as I go to and from a store where I work here. Never have I stopped to appreciate the beauty of this mall. It was a well designed mall for both functionality and aesthetics. I will no longer be able to look at this place as just a run down building. I see the beauty in it now.