The Great Pacific Mall Race

                                                                              8/24/11

I only go down to the  Pacific Garden Mall in Santa Cruz for three reasons; to buy books at Logos, or Santa Cruz Book Store, cruse the Chef Works for new cooking tools, and go to the movies.  This day I needed to buy a couple new Scifi books and since I am down there anyway, I thought I would hang out at the Chef Works, pretending like I am some kind of Food Network guru perusing the latest kitchen gadgets.

 So I found a parking spot near Logos, which meant I needed to sprint down the mall to Book Shop Santa Cruz, cross the street to Chef Works and then sprint back to my parking spot. Is it just me or is this like running a triathlon? Leaving Logos with my first package, I felt like a running back as I leapt over panhandlers, dodged hoards of young people, and tucked and rolled by solicitors begging for money for their certain cause.  I finally get to the Santa Cruz book store panting and out of breath when I hear music, like angels playing harps. At first, I thought it was my time to go to the great beyond, when I notice a young girl sitting on the ground playing a miniature harp. That inner voice in me said,” Hey slow down and listen to the music.” Well, it was lovely. I do have to say that some of those street musicians are amazing.  Five minutes later I threw a dollar bill into her basket and ran into the book store.

Finding my book, I sprinted over to Chef Works were I was almost talked into buying a $250.00 crock pot made by a French person whose name I cannot pronounce, Emilie something.  Instead, to the chagrin of my sales rep, I walked out of there with a ten dollar spatula.  Now I have three packages and telling myself, as I am hurling down the center isle of the sidewalk; “Just don’t look them in the eyes”, Egads, too late,  here comes a sweet girl asking me if I want to help the poverty stricken children of the world. I said, “No not now”, and then she said a couple words I cannot use in this paper. Which so shocked me that I returned a, “yea have them get their own jobs, I just paid ten dollars for a firkin spatula!”  As I trotted down to my car, feeling a little like scrooge, I crossed the finish line intact, mind body and soul. Maybe I should go back and help the poor children, but not with potty mouths like that!  There are those that never start the race, there are those who never finish the race and there are those who finish last but finish the race. I think this also goes for those who shop at Pacific Garden Mall.