People Watchers...
So, the other day, I went to the "old" mall with my daughter. The town where I live has a much newer, outdoor mall that was built about 4 years ago. This story takes place in the old, run down mall. It’s not as popular but still has a certain charm. I don’t shop there much anymore but decided to visit about a week ago.My daughter and I walked around and shopped for about an hour and she wanted to go to this little place that caters to the tween generation. I decided to sit on the bench just outside the shop and wait for her. I took the opportunity to people watch. This is a really great hobby by the way. If you’ve never tried it, you should do yourself the favor – even if it’s just once. You would be surprised at the almost endless humor that can be found in the simple things. Very interesting to say the least...
So, there I am, sitting in the mall, watching everyone walk by. The beauty of it is, most folks are oblivious and the entertainment is free. You see people in their natural state of mind doing normal things in a comfortable setting. I was probably sitting there for no more than 30 minutes but I gathered an abundance of information. However, this people watching episode wasn't as funny for me...
I watched an entire dramatic saga of a boyfriend/girlfriend breakup within a group of (what looked like) 13 year olds. It was intense and premeditated. The boyfriend was laughing and other girls were hanging all over him as the girlfriend stormed off to cry in the restroom.
There was a mother of 4 very small babies who looked like she could use a vacation. Her appearance was tattered and tired looking. I could see her frustration and stress in her eyes. At the same time, she had incredibly calm words and hands with her little ones as she hurried past me. I noticed the smallest baby lost a shoe and the oldest, no more than 4, had sticky red stuff all over his hands, face and shirt. I wondered if these were the little things the mother was ignoring so she could focus on bigger issues...or maybe she didn’t notice at all.
A young couple with a little boy leisurely walked over in my direction. There was a sense of distance between them. I overheard the man tell the woman to “shut the hell up, you’re not getting the damn phone back” as he shot a cold glare over at her. The little boy seemed to be in his own world as he trailed behind. I wondered if the boy already mastered the art of losing himself in an imaginary place to block out the chaos at home.
I realized my eyes were following the little boy. My heart went out to him. About the time I started to dwell on feeling sorry for him....it happened.
cont'
Comments (5)
The first thing I picked up on was that they looked alike. That made me think that this couple had been together for a very long time. I bet they could complete each other’s sentences and thoughts. The couple seemed more like best friends or siblings rather than lovers. I noticed the man picked up his wife’s hand and kiss and hold it. But everything else seemed more like a sibling relationship. They laughed at the same things, had the same reactions and even had the same mannerisms. Yes, they had definitely spent their lives together. I found myself wondering about their family, all the things they have seen together, funny and sad moments they have shared, etc... the couple was still very much in love and it radiated from them.
Then I began to feel a little envious. I realized that the chances of me finding that kind of love are slim to none. Which brings me to a few questions...why is the divorce rate so high? What changed? Back in the day, folks got married and stayed that way...what is our malfunction? We (or most) want unconditional, lasting love so why is it so hard to find??
Deep in thought, I heard a little girl say, "Hi Mama!! Look what I got"! My daughter was smiling at me with her new treasures in hand. I couldn't help but to smile back...
You also have some very good questions.
Could it be, that we live in a fast paced, no wait, pill popping, instant satisfaction society that doesn't take the real time necessary to find the perfect match?
I don't know what the answers are to my questions. There is definitely a huge difference between generations and something has drastically changed the union of marriage.
LS