Happenings at the Bel Air Mall in Mobile

First of all, WHY did I go to the mall 9 days before Christmas at 5:00- the height of mall traffic? I really don't know.

Two bizarre things happened to me last night at the mall, which I will share with you now:

1. As I was trying my hardest to get a parking spot close enough where I could just SEE the mall, I almost ran into a Policeman on HORSEBACK. Yes, he was patrolling the mall parking lot on a horse. In case you steal something at the mall and try to get away with it, the policeman will go after you down the treacherous Airport Blvd. on HORSEBACK.

2. A little preface for bizarre incident #2. I go to the mall a lot during my lunch breaks because I can walk from work. Well you know those little shop-stands in the middle of the mall walkways that sell purses or knick-knacks or Bama/Auburn memorabilia? Well this mall has this horrible shop-stand that sells foreign cosmetics, lotions, etc. It's called "Revolution" and the people that staff the little shop-stand are AWEFUL. I think they are from Slovakia and they smell weird, all have incredibly nappy hair, and just basically freak me out. So every time I walk by the Revolution shop-stand, one of the Slovakian staffers skips toward me and says in a creepy foreign accent, "Excuse me miss, would you tell me your darkest secret." It's a little vampiric. The first time this happened (about two months ago) I was so taken aback that I literally said, "WHAT?" and then darted into the nearest store which happened to be The Limited, so it was ok. Every time I walk by, I am approached by one of them and asked about my "darkest secret." I have trained myself to stare straight ahead and pick up the pace, but I usually end up trying to come up with a good response to the "darkest secret" question that would get them to stop. Like, "I'm really a man" or " I steal cars when I'm bored."

SO, all that to report bizarre incident #2. Whew! Last night, as I'm approaching the Revolution shop-stand, I begin to stare straight ahead and I'm walking at a very fast clip, when I realize that one of the Slovakian Revolution staffers is trying to HUG ME. Mid Hug-attempt, he is saying, "Tell me your darkest secret!" And I just started saying, "No Touchey! No Touchey!"

The Revolution guy tried to hug me in the middle of the mall! Maybe that is my darkest secret- that I hate the Revolution shop-stand workers. UGH!

Ok, and now, as promised, I must give a big Shout-out to our great friend Garett. We miss Garett a ton, but we love how whenever we talk with him or get to visit, it seems like we never missed a beat! Love you Gare-bear! You better be reading this since I did the shout-out!