Mall Walkers

Well, it is official. After today, my maternity leave is over. I go back to work tomorrow. I’m not sure whether to cry or rejoice.  And now that I will be working again, I think my days of afternoon leisurely mall walking are over. Do they do this in other parts of the country? Or is is just in extreme ND (when you can’t walk outside) that people take over the mall to . . . . walk in circles?  It’s a fact around here – mall walking is somewhat of it’s own sport, with rules and regulations.  After each of my kids were born (winter babies) of course it was too cold to go outside so I took up mall walking.  Just an excuse to get out of the house at first, then enjoyable to window shop along the way, and finally . . . kind of addicting.  Did you know that the malls open early, like way before the stores open, just for walkers? And people come in and leave their coats at random places along the walls, or on benches, while they walk? These things facinate me. People are so trusting here! As I walk around and around and around,  I take notice that there are really only three groups of mall walkers.

First, there are the “little-old-ladies” group (my personal favorite-maybe I am missing my job more than I think).  These walkers travel in packs of 2 or 3, sans husband. They walk at a little slower pace, no beads of sweat on their forehead, and good conversation seems to be their main goal. They are always the ones who want to stop and oogle at the babies at the mall. Usually they stop at a coffee shop mid-walk, sit down and enjoy a coffee and scone.  Upon further inspection, it seems their husbands (or man-friends) are at the mall also – just not walking. They all congregate together near a local food/drink venue to converse about important subjects such as the weather, farming (it is ND) and of course medications.  What I find funny as a pharmacist is that 98% of the medications they talk about don’t exist – or at least what they are saying don’t exist.  The  mispronunciations give me a fun type of trivia as I walk through the mall.  (“Hmm . . what medication could they be trying to say?”)

Next, there is the “50-something” group.  This group usually consists of 50-something women walking solo, or with their husband. The “couple walkers” usually are holding hands, which I find really weird to try to exercise while holding someone’s hand.  This is really the only group I see where men are walking – and they are always with their wives. Is it a forced walk? Are the 50-something women in more control of their hubbies than the other groups? Or perhaps this age group of men are just coming to the realization that their health may not be as great as they think, and they better start somewhere right?

Then, of course, there is the “30ish-moms-with-small-children” group.  I consider myself part of this group. Not quite 30 yet, but 29 probably qualifies as 30ish.  This group of walkers is typically not alone – they have kids in strollers! I like to think I’m getting a better workout than the other groups because I’m pushing around a big old stroller too. This group usually walks faster than the other groups, can often be seen on a cell phone, and drinks her coffee while walking. It’s a group full of multi-taskers. The worst is when you get two or more of these moms walking together, each with their own stroller. Try passing a little-old-lady group with 2 or more strollers while still maintaining a reasonable pace.  I’ve been in one of these groups before. It’s a little harder to manuver with a couple of strollers bumping into things/people along the way.

Are these groups standard around the globe? I guess I’ve never noticed “mall walkers” at the mall before I became one. Now I can pick them out everywhere I go, whether I’m walking or shopping.

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