Hobbies

Taking a Stroll Down Retail Lane

Jeanna GLeave a comment

I went to the mall today. I think that was the first time in over three years! I was very curious to know what state the mall would be in post-Covid. I was pleasantly surprised to see that there were a good amount of people walking around, and most were wearing masks. The whole mall smelled of popcorn. All the stores I remembered being there were still open for business, plus a few new ones. It was clean and bright. Kids were riding the electronic ponies and begging their parents for a quarter to get a gumball out of the machine. All of the store clerks were genuinely friendly and willing to help. I really enjoyed the whole experience, to the point that I think I should go more often, and take my daughter with me. I know, I know… Why would I think of taking my daughter, knowing full well that she can find something in every store that she wants? Because it’s something to do that’s somewhat entertaining (and I know how to say NO).

When I was in 5th grade, I went to the mall almost every Friday night. I either went with my friend, Carrie, or my friend, Diana, and then I would sleep over at their respective homes afterwards. We would buy the five foot long strings of red licorice from the candy kiosk and have competitions to see who could eat theirs first without using their hands. We would walk the whole mall and go into all of our favorite stores: Gap, 5-7-9, Deb, Contempo Casuals, Record Town, B. Moss, Waldenbooks, Bob Stores, Suncoast Motion Picture Company, Baubles, Bangles ‘N’ Beads, Bradlees, Rave, and KayBee Toy & Hobby.

I didn’t have a lot of spending money, just whatever allowance I earned from doing chores, so I didn’t get something every week. In a way, lack of funds made the trips to the mall better, because I could make a mental list of what I really wanted, and if, when I went back, I still wanted it, it was still there, and I finally had enough money to buy it, then it was so much more rewarding to make the purchase. Score! Even if I couldn’t buy everything I wanted, I still found it fun to just walk around and look at all the stuff (in 3-D!) that people came up with to sell, and to know what was popular.

I admit I’ve given in to the convenience of online shopping, but I’ve made a promise to myself to only buy shoes and clothes in-store from now on. And I’m going to start walking the mall with my daughter a couple times a year. I don’t want malls to disappear, so if I can help just a little, then I will.

Just Like Riding a Bike

Jeanna GLeave a comment

I loved my 10-speed bike. I rode it to the park, the swim center, my friend’s house. I even rode it to school one evening, without asking permission, to watch my 6th grade crush practice basketball. (I got in a lot of trouble for that one.) Bike riding was my hobby. I loved tearing through town. The best rides were the ones with no destination, the ones on which I could just coast, hands-free, and enjoy the scenery of my beautiful town.

Then my 10-speed got stolen. And then I started dating a guy with a license and a car. And then my best friend got her license and a car. And finally, I got my license. No more bike rides.

Then I went to college and got a bike because campus was huge. But then my bike got stolen.

Later on I moved to Maine and made daily bike trips to the beach, and I was reminded of why I loved it so much. But then my bike got stolen.

Then I had a baby and bike rides weren’t even on my radar. Until…

My daughter and I flew out to visit a childhood friend and her wife in Chicago. They got her a babysitter, and they got me a bike. Together, the three of us tore through the city on a cold November night, stopping to hydrate at the local tap rooms. It was a blast! The sights whizzing by, the wind in my hair, trusting my body to move in ways that I forgot it could. All good things, and all the result of being reminded of how I choose to love life.

Life is full of distractions and we can easily find ourselves out of our elements, and the things we love to do somehow get sidelined as the humdrum takes the field. The good news is that remembering how you love life is just like riding a bike. We can take off where we left off, we just need to start pedaling! It helps to have old friends who remind us of who we are, but how we love life should come as second nature. So get your wheels turning and reminisce about what makes you happy, then change gears, and enjoy the ride!

In Search of the Eternal Buzz

Jeanna G2 Comments

My older brother, who is way cooler than I’ll ever be, used to drive a ‘76 Monte Carlo hot rod. On the back bumper was a sticker that read, “In Search of the Eternal Buzz.” As his younger sister, I gathered that search involved fast cars, beer, and babes. Much older and a little wiser, I’ve discovered that the buzz is as unique as the buzzed. As Cole Porter points out, ‘I get no kick from champagne, cocaine, or a plane, but I get a kick out of you.’ To each his own, right?

I’ve had quite the range of experiences in search of my own eternal buzz. Some healthy, some not. Some legal, some not. Some safe, some not. Fast, slow, expensive, free, large groups, alone, far away, right at home. I’ve come to find my brother’s life motto is another way of describing the concept of flow. It’s not about the end result, but the journey. It’s about living in the moment so deeply that nothing else exists. Leaning in with open arms, heart, soul, and mind.

I’ve also learned there are a lot of buzzkills out there. Avoid them. They are speed bumps that need to be swerved around. Some people just don’t like that others are happier than them. Misery loves company, and all that. Buzzkills are narrow-minded enough to think their way is the right way, the only way. But I’m rubber and they’re glue…

Some people are lucky and find their buzz early in life. Some are old and gray before their search comes to a blissful end. Either way, it’s important to keep looking. And once you find that buzz, just keep buzzin’.

So in my search, I’ve found that I love adventure. I love writing. I love traveling. I love food. I love wine. I love learning and knowing things. I love good stories. I love when things are clean and organized. I love puzzles. I love being able to fix things. I love music. I love my dogs. I love nature walks. I love cool air. I love to be entertained. I love to play. I love Christmas. I love the fall. I love to laugh. I love when the ocean or a mountain comes into view. I love the moon and the stars. I love my home. I love my family and friends. I love God. I love my daughter. And I love me. Every day I make time for something or someone I love, and so every day I catch a buzz. The more I focus on what and who I love, the longer my buzz lasts. Voila! It’s as easy that.

So what gets you buzzed?