let's Never Go there Again

I had to run to the mall a few days ago to pick up Christmas gifts. What a nightmare.

I got lost on the way to mall. Then I got lost inside the mall. I got lost trying to find my way out of the mall. I got lost trying to find my car in the parking lot of the mall. And I was so flustered by the end of it that I got lost on my way home from the mall.

I hate the mall.

Walking through a shopping mall is like suffocating yourself in commercialism, materialism and blatant attempts to brain-wash the general public. Posters and ads are everywhere telling me that I'm not thin enough, not pretty enough, my teeth aren't white enough, my hair is the wrong color, I wear the wrong clothes, and I couldn't possibly be sufficiently happy until I get enough money to rectify these glaring defects in my life. And I find myself surrounded by people who have bought into these sordid, contemptible and shameless lies.

I hate the mall.

I tried to go people-watching at a mall once. I thought it would be a chance to see a lot of people in many varieties. I brought a sketch-book.

Have you ever tried people-watching in a mall?

It was the most boring experience of my life. Everyone looked the same. Same hair-styles done at the same salons. Same clothing styles bought at the same department stores. All too skinny, all too fake, all of them walking in all directions at once, yet going nowhere; all with an insatiable burning emptiness in their eyes; all yearning for satisfaction that is always just out of reach.

One more laser hair removal treatment, one more teeth-whitener, one more blouse, one more pair of shoes, one more bauble, one more ridiculously over-priced bag of European chocolates or hand lotion...THEN will you be happy?

I hate the mall.