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Buttercup and I go to the mall quite a bit on days when the weather doesn’t permit our outdoor excursions.  It’s fun to walk the length of the mall, wears her and me out, and there’s lots of little kid stations where we can take breaks and reign toddler havoc.

Usually we go in the middle of the day, around lunch time or after.  It’s interesting what has evolved there, and I’m surprised, although maybe I shouldn’t be.  There’s a regular crowd of older gentleman who walk the mall, stop and get lunch, or do a little shopping.  I’m not sure if they’re widowed or their wives have just sent them to the mall to get them out of their hair for a little bit.

Nevertheless, there are regulars there, these old men come daily.  I guess they’ve started to recognize me, because the other day I went to one of the department stores to get Daddy a couple new shirts and some ties.  I was trying desperately to keep Buttercup from tearing apart a beautifully laid out table of ties when my radar came on that there was a man hanging around near us.  (In the men’s department, imagine my surprise.)  I look up to check him out, and there is the most adorable old man I have ever seen in my life.  He had these heavy grey eyebrows and big laughing eyes.  Once I made eye contact, it was all over.  He strolled over to me and started complimenting Buttercup, like they do, and I was all smiles and “Yes, yes, she’s an angel.”  Buttercup continued to the dress socks area, where she was pulling them one by one off of the rack.  God, help me.  Anyway, the old man walked away and came back carrying a suit jacket.  He looked at me so sincerely, so sweetly.
“Is this tweed?”  The jacket in question was indeed tweed.
“Yep, that’s tweed!  Very nice.”  I nodded my approval, trying to negotiate a deal with Buttercup where she could hold the ties I was buying if she left the socks alone.
“What kind of tie do you think you’d wear with tweed?”  Still, the sincerity and slight confusion was all over his face.
“I’m really not sure…”  But, before I knew it, I was helping this poor older gentleman pick out a tie, and then a shirt to match his new jacket :)

Back in the play center, the old men come to talk to me and watch a little of the TV that hangs above the center.  They chat me up about everything from the weather to the elections.  I really don’t quite know what to do with them all, but we’re getting to be on a first name basis.  I think I’ve collected a new set of boyfriends :)

In a way, I love it.  They remind me of my Grandpa who used to always come to the mall with my Grandma and me to do our shopping.  I still miss him, and these adorable old men make me think of him every time.

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