it wasn't supposed to be this way but...: Clogged Blog

it wasn't supposed to be this way but...: Clogged Blog: I crawled the bleachers in the gymnasium, found a seat and sat down. Sighed.  Made it in time.  The Cheer Competition hadn't started y...

The Mall

Obviously, things have changed a bit from when I was a teenager.

Just a bit.

I was reminded tonight that really, really, things haven't changed all that much, it is just the way we go about it.

When I was a teenager, my friends Joan and Barb and Joan's sister, finally graduated to the biggest privilege of all, taking the bus to the Monroeville Mall.  The Mall.  The bus.  Alone, without parental control.  Shopping.  Teenage shopping.  Alone.  Awesomeness.

We would save our money all summer for this trip.  I can remember buying an outfit for the Catholic Church Carnival (painter's pants and earth shoes) along with the Back to School outfits.  We waited all summer for this bus trip.

We got the bus at the bottom of our street, on the Highway.  The label above the bus driver said "Monroeville Mall".  Translation, Paradise.

We rode the bus, $1.35 each way.  We would spend all of our money except for the $1.35 that would get us home.  This bus ride was over an hour, and an hour of diversity.  Our eyes were wide open,  feet tired and wallets empty.

We shopped at Ormond's, Foxmore Casuals, GAP,  Black gabardine trousers with blouses with abstract designs.  Earth Shoes.  Blouses with big bows in the front.  Anything that was Mauve.  Levis' 501s from the GAP.  Long cardigan sweaters.  Long sleeved blouses with V neck sweaters, the layered look.  Fashion. 

We shopped. We ran hangers over those racks.  We hid clothes in stores, we went to every store, made sure we were getting the biggest bang for the buck.  And then we made our purchases.

We had babysat, mowed grass, baby sat dogs and washed cars.  We had cash. 

And we would treat ourselves to lunch.  There were very few places in the mall to eat so it wasn't that big of a treat.  No debit cards, no cell phones, no coupons on cell phones, no pictures being transmitted over the world wide web...just girls gaining independence through fashion.  We were fashionistas, purchasing gaberdene black pants and earth shoes at the Monroeville Mall.

This week, my Addie was asked to go with three other girls to the Crabtree Valley Mall for the day.  Two hours away. 

The "preshopping" web shopping has been nonstop.  Complete with comparisons, online coupons, lists in phones, an online scavenger hunt. 

Of course I had a friend say, "don't let her go.  It is a different world."

Yes, it is.  I understand. 

I also understand that the "virgin girlfriend trip to the mall" is a right of passage.  The excitement is over the top. 

I am excited for her.  I want to go.  I want to go and sit on a bench and watch them go from store to store and take Instagram photos, selfies and then eat cheeseburgers.  I want to watch them take the first steps of becoming women. 

Instead I will stay at home and be a mom.  Being there when she returns and watching her show me her purchases will be the most fun.

Two dollars and seventy cents was my admission to fashion and independence.  Truly, some of the best money ever spent. Her ride is free but worth so much more.