Dear creepy man in the green plaid shirt,

Thank you for keeping me on edge during my lunch break today. Who knew that a simple trip to the mall for a book & some chicken teriyaki would have me power walking through the parking lot with my keys {weaved between my fingers like they were a pair of brass knuckles} in one hand and my Crackberry {ready to call Virginia Beach's finest} in the other.

I figured you were just some random dude I would never see again when I walked by you outside of Barnes & Noble. I don't know how you managed to bump into me again in the mall {I mean, I did go into two different stores}, but you did. When you followed me onto the escalator to the food court, I figured you were hungry like I was. When you walked BY me on the escalator, you kind of creeped me out. Maybe you were really hungry & in a hurry to choose which fast food place you wanted to grab a bite to eat from...I don't know. What I do know is that it's not cool to walk by people on an escalator {maybe that's just me, but...}.

And, you know what's REALLY not cool? Me turning around in the chicken teriyaki line to find you standing there. Yeah, not cool. I know I'm being a bit selfish, but that was MY idea for lunch. I understand that maybe you were hungry, too, but seeing you for a third time in less than a half-hour was more than just mere coincidence {at least it is in my paranoid mind}. Especially because each time I saw you you were looking right at me. Ew.

Just so you know, I was totally ready to take your sorry butt out with my two orders of food {one was for a friend...sheesh...I'm not that hungry}. It's creepy people like you who fuel my desire to shop online. At home. Where I'm not bothered by creepy men in green plaid shirts {remind me to check the hubs' closet}.

Sincerely,
The overly cautious girl

Sidenote: OK, so this might be a bit presumptuous, but I stand my ground. I've had one too many strange run-ins at the mall before {one involving my children even}, so I've always got my guard up.

A Saturday at the mall.

After Malia & I had our hair cut yesterday afternoon, we ventured over to Lynnhaven Mall. Much to Aidan's dismay, we were there to shop -- the kids both needed new shoes and I had Gymbucks to redeem at Gymboree. All Aidan wanted to do was have lunch at McDonald's and we did...after we shopped for shoes.

Good thing he wanted to eat at McD's because Stride Rite nearly broke the bank. Anyway, we went to the food court and passed the next hour eating Chicken McNuggets and people watching. Well, the kids at the nuggets and I did the people watching. The mall on a Saturday afternoon is not a fun place to be...especially in the food court. But, it was fun nonetheless.

I sat and watched groups of kids hanging out. I watched families with young children walk around. I even saw a woman carrying a small dog in her jacket. I wonder if she bought him/her from the new pet store at the mall (don't get me started on that, please). The teenage cliques cracked me up the most. They were just hilarious to watch. The girls checking out the guys. The guys checking out the girls. The giggling and finger pointing. Of course, there was some cursing and "bad ass" attitude, but I guess that just goes (unfortunately) with the territory. I was a teenager once who hung out at the mall. I remember getting dropped off at Lynnhaven Mall years ago -- either with my girlfriends or on a date with Adam. We did the same things those kids did -- shop, eat at the food court, watch movies and just hang out.

Of course, we didn't dress like today's teenagers did -- OMG some of the crap they were wearing! I swear, if my daughter even attempts to leave the house in a dress that barely covers her tush I will flip out! Back in my day, even though there were some scandalous ones out there, more was left to the imagination -- I guess you gotta thank the Seattle grunge scene for that. We also didn't have cell phones -- heck, pagers weren't even cool to carry back then yet.

It's just amazing how much difference a few years makes -- OK, more than a few years. But, still. I guess it just goes to show that kids really DO grow up fast these days. Don't believe me? Then hang out at a mall on a Saturday afternoon. You'll see...