These last four months have been terrible but I am cautiously optimistic

[EFerrari]

today because I WENT SHOPPING IN A MALL for the first time this century. And the thinking is, if malls are possible then everything else will fall into place. That's my theory and I'm sticking with it. :silly:

I went here:


and it felt really strange at first to be amid all those people. Did you guys know that there are places that sell handbags that cost 400 DOLLARS AMERICAN? Why in the name of Dog would anyone need such a thing? :wow:

I managed to buy a light sweater and some gloves at a huge January discount and to walk round until I felt at home. It was a little like rejoining humanity in a social way. I tried to go to the art supply store for gesso but my feet (and the rest of me) gave out. No wonder those people wear sneakers to those places.

That was nice. I have to get out more because when I got home, the cats and the puppy practically knocked me over to see what kind of treat took that long to buy. It was nice to go downtown and feel all that energy. It was really nice to get back home.

:hug:
:grouphug:

[gemdem]

1. Congrats!

It may seem like a small step, but it's an important one. I'm thrilled for you!

:hug: :hug: :hug:

[EFerrari]

4. Thanks! I have no idea why that felt so important, lol,

but I'll take it. :)

[gemdem]

7. It's all relative

You're out among the living again, that's what counts. Better than feeling "dead" all of the time. :-)

[EFerrari]

8. Or, "withholding' in the sense that sometimes people try

to protect themselves and everyone in their circle from negative emotions.

For weeks, I didn't want to talk to anyone because I didn't want to subject me or them to my tearing up. Bad form, you know. ;)

Maybe I should start Bloomingdales Recovery Bootcamp.

:rofl:

[hunter]

9. I can pack negative emotions in until I become a black hole...

... sucking the life out of everything.

[EFerrari]

11. One of these days, we'll find out that people around us can take it.

that they really aren't that fragile.

This is just a theory of mine, mind you.

:hug:

[rox63]

2. Wow, where is there a mall that's that hugemongous?

The biggest ones we have around here are 3 stories.

Congrats on taking this step. And I also have no idea who would buy a $400 handbag. :hi:

[EFerrari]

5. This is the San Francisco Centre and it's pretty much vertical

with Bloomingdale's on one side and Nordstrom on the other. I'd never been to Bloomingdale's and thought that my sneering rights against conspicuous consumption would be more valid if I actually walked into the joint once. lol

But, it is true you can find bargains this week. I got a nice pair of gloves marked down to seven dollars and they're cashmere.

[hunter]

3. Yikes, a mall!

People think those places are fun???

In my utopia everything I needed could be grown in my backyard or found in the forest.

But I do love to visit the city -- it's a place of many wonders.

:hug:

[EFerrari]

6. hunter, you should have seen these whole LOUNGES set up

for tired looking guys. They looked so miserable. But someone clearly thought ahead and set up three or four areas on every floor so these folks could be miserable sitting down. :shrug:


The city energy was neat, though. It's very quiet out where I live by park and beach. That mall was definitely DOWNTOWN and I had to pass the Orpheum and the Warfield to get there. Maybe I'll try it again next January.

:hug:

[hunter]

10. It's the random scrtitch scratch scrith of hangers against the rack...

... by dozens of women as they look through clothes, and the store music that grates on me when I'm not right.

But lately I'm okay, I don't want to run right out the door!

[EFerrari]

12. Those places drive my bananas, too. I can spend 2 hours

at Home Depot and have a great time but an hour at that place and it felt like there had been some kind of battle. lol