One of our major malls puts on a free lunch for seniors each year. Now this is one of the Micro Manager favorite events. Not so much for me.
The micro manager likes to get to the mall shortly after 9:30 AM for lunch! Why? At that time the Micro Manager can line up for a free bag full of trash. (I'm not very nice am I?) The gift bag for the Micro manager is a big deal. You get the bag and lots of stuff inside. Well, let see. There's a coupon to get your picture taken with Santa. She can't wait to run over and get the picture taken. What else afghan, calendar, box of Kleenex, some other coupons and candy and chocolates.
Then there's the lunch. You line up with 300 seniors and slowly move through the line to get your soup, sandwiches, juice, coffee and cookies. The lunch is a good deal. To be honest, I didn't line up. The Micro Manager went through with two plates. I held the table down as I had to make sure somebody didn't take off with the goody bag.
What did I do when the Micro manager was having so much fun? I read the paper, did the puzzles and played games on the ipad!
I don't like malls much. Or crowds much when I don't know anybody. I like crowds if I know the people.
Oh yes, the Micro manager had a little shopping to do.
So this was my stressful day.
I know I'll get a lot of sympathy for this whine!
A while ago I told you that I was doing a 4 hour shift selling books and other things for the Nature Center bookstore in one of the larger malls. I like this shift and look forward to it every year. I like watching people. I have a front row seat as people go back and forth in the mall. Then lots of people stop to browse and see if there's anything that would be good gift. Some people just stop to visit. Many of them have something to ask about the natural world. Others have something they want to tell you.
Now I like kids...little kids. Usually little kids go by my stall and don't even notice it. The other day I noticed the odd little kid gave me a wave and smile. I wondered about this. Then a mother was talking to me and the toddler was in the shopping cart. This little kid was really giving me the big smile. Then I heard her say "nanta". Oops ! I got it.
These poor little kids were going by me and thinking that I was Santa Claus! Wow! I didn't think I looked that old!
I guess the white beard did it for these little guys. I wonder what they would have done if I had my red fleece on?
So this is my Christmas Eve story.
Have a wonderful Christmas.
