23
December 8, 2011
the local
by James Hagan
Confessions of a Mall-A-Holic money they have left I have a confession is going to a charity for to make: I’m James the homeless or some Hagan and I’m a mallother worthy cause. I a-holic. This should can also understand be a shameful thing why people balk at for any non-teen to paying $8 for a burrito, make, but I can’t help or a “sandwich” as it. There’s something some call it. People about Cordova Mall need that money to during the Christmas buy their daughter season that just makes those “Twilight” tit irresistible to spend shirts from Hot Topic. time in. I’m actually How else will she make one of the lucky ones friends in high school? because not only do I Sure, sometimes people seem tired and have a chance to hang out in the mall, but I can be rude, but I just know that they’re also get to work in a restaurant at Cordova just disappointed because their five-yearMall. Every day I get to encounter the old daughter really needed that sold-out smiling faces of the cheerful mall shopBlu-Ray player from Best Buy. How else pers. I have certainly learned a lot. will Brittany Kaitlyn be able to watch her From watching the news you might favorite cartoons on her new flat-screen think that the economy is in terrible shape. TV? The media tells us that Americans are People claim that we have all forgotangry and broke, and that people have ten the true meaning of Christmas, that taken to the streets to “occupy.” From my instead on focusing on our family or loved research at Cordova Mall, however, I think ones, and telling them how much they mean the economy is in great shape. Every day to us, or helping the less fortunate, we’re the place is packed with young women all concerned with getting the best deals holding three or four bags of clothes from and buying the coolest stuff. They say that Wet Seal and Charlotte Russe happily chatinstead of it being the happiest time of the ting on their smart phones while pushing year, it is instead the most stressful, causing a baby-stroller. Men of all ages are lining people to take on second-jobs, max out up for hours to buy the new “Call of Duty” their credit cards and go into debt while video game, while stylish couples stroll by sinking into depression. I’m not sure though. hand-in-hand holding boxes of the finest What would make you happier? Standing in footwear from Coach and sucking down $5 line Christmas Eve trying to get one last gift drinks from Starbucks. From the shopping or being home drinking hot chocolate and habits of mall shoppers it seems like the watching “A Charlie Brown Christmas” with Pensacola economy is at an all-time high. the one you love best? I know which one I When January comes around I don’t want prefer. Merry Christmas, ya’ll. to hear from the media that people are having trouble paying their bills because Christmas shoppers have taught me otherwise. Actually, the only way Cordova Mall seems to resemble an Occupy rally is that About "The Local": James Hagan is not a fan of there are a lot of younger people the holidays and hates the song “Jingle Bell Rock.” hanging out all day who don’t His favorite Christmas memory was sitting alone seem to have a job to go to. and watching Akira Kurosawa’s three-hour adapThe holidays do bring out tation of “The Idiot.” He’s getting a graduate degree the best in mall customers in English Literature from the University of West as well. When I’m ringing up Florida, and works as a Cordova Mall restaurant a customer’s $20-something elf. He can be found most nights at a local downlunch, I never expect them to town bar. tip me. After all, with all the shopping they’ve done at the mall that day, I’m sure whatever
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