There’s a mall nearby that is closing. All the interior stores have closed and only a couple of the big stores on the ends remain open. There has been talk for years about what could be done to make the property more viable but it’s always seemed inevitable to me that the mall would fail. Three or four years ago I did all my Christmas shopping there because it was never crowded. Not even just before the holiday.
They were advertising wonderful sales at Macy’s; 50% off already marked down stuff. Husband and I decided to go see what was available. It was oddly sad. Most of the store was blocked off, and merchandise was piled and hung in clumps, thoroughly picked over, like an overpriced garage sale.
But for me the saddest things were in the basement where they were selling fixtures; shelving, file cabinets, decorations, mirrors, tables and manikins. The naked manikins, standing in groups, lined up or hanging in rows were somehow disheartening. Like children not picked to play on a team in middle school gym class, they seem lonely. And a little bit embarrassed at being unclothed. Yet the symmetry of their body parts was intriguing as well. The way they were grouped together, either as members of a marching army, or guests at a cocktail party seemed to inspire a story. One without a happy ending.
Which is why I went back a day or two later with my camera. To capture the end of an era.
Katie, her dad and I went to agility tonight. I was eager to see if the success we experienced last week when she finally connected with the A-frame would transfer to tonight. And I was wondering if she’d get comfortable on the tall dogwalk tonight as well given she only ran it once last week on her own, then got scared. We’ve done a little bit of dogwalk in the driveway this week, but the weather has really limited the amount of time we had to practice out there.
Class started with dogwalk, and all the dogs trotted right over without problem. Now we’re focusing on getting them to do the 202o at the end. Even Katie stopped when I told her to TOUCH! Then we added the tire to the dogwalk. No problem. After that we did a series of 3 jumps and then tunnel; we were practicing pushing and pulling the dog, sending them to the correct entrance of the tunnel which was shaped in a tight U. Katie loved the jumps, but had difficulty doing tunnel. There was no room for me to run past the entrance, so each time I slowed or stopped she’d pop back out. That was frustrating. She was successful eventually but it wasn’t a sure thing. The first time she successfully jumped then ran through the tunnel she ran out the other end, and while I was fumbling for a treat to reward her, she spotted the dogwalk across the room and ran straight for it and was up and over it before I had time to react! We all laughed. Silly shy little pup, afraid of everything, was choosing her own agility course now!
Quick break and then the instructor added A-frame and a jump to the dogwalk, then tunnel, then jump then table. Sigh again. She HATES the A-frame. She won’t do more than put her front feet on it…and streeeeetch out for a treat. So after some of that I ask if it’s OK to pick her up and put her on the frame. They said OK, so I did that all evening. Putting her about 2/3 of the way up and she runs over the top and creeeeeps down the other side, then springs over the jump, races over the flat dogwalk, flings herself through the tunnel, does the jump and lands triumphantly on the table grinning the whole way. Over the evening we added more jumps before the Aframe, including the tire, and she did everything except run the Aframe and the tall dogwalk. I was really pleased.
The story is that my mom was very pregnant with my sister on dad’s birthday and she didn’t feel up to making a cake. So she made him meatloaf and “frosted” it with mashed potatoes. My sister was born the next day. I think my sister was actually Dad’s best birthday present ever. Even if she was one day late.
Change Is Hard 