Less than half an hour into my shift at the clothing store, a customer who was new to this mall asked me if it was usual to have a crying woman in the mall. Puzzled, I asked her what she was talking about. First she explained; then I heard it. A woman, probably in her late 30's, early 40's (keeping in mind I was really too far away to be accurate) was sobbing and I do mean sobbing her heart out. She had her hand over her face and was just making the loudest noises possible. I saw three people stop and try to find out what was wrong, but they left soon after. Then I went to the courtesy corner to make sure someone was going to help her out but there was another couple ahead of me, trying to do the same thing. Then a message came across on the mall walkie talkies. Apparently she does this all the time, and she's either not all there or is doing it for attention. She moves from chair to chair, in different sections of the mall, sometimes sobbing, other times just covering her face. My manager saw her earlier in the day and they exchanged hellos, with nary a tear in sight. Very weird.

I helped out this most stylish customer. I love it when women come in all prettified, but they look like they always look that way. Actually, I'm not sure if I love it because it makes me feel so hopelessly low maintenance in that bad way, that "I don't take enough time to look my best, I'm a slob" way but I guess I envy them. She bought a whole bunch of things for her upcoming trip to Chateau Montebello. I've never been to the chateau, but I've only heard good things about it. It's this elegant resort and many a lucky woman has been whisked up there to be proposed to, no doubt. This woman was going with her husband and children, and she just seemed so happy and content with her life. I like to serve happy customers.

I love nights when I work alone at Cotton Ginny. What do you think I do when it's dead and the store isn't a filthy mess? Well, I refold t-shirts and I talk to myself, sing and make "to do" lists, which I never end up completing. I spent part of the night thinking about the "to hug or not to hug question". Maybe it's just me, but there are some friends that hugging is so natural with, you don't even think about it. Then, of course, there are others that, no matter how long you know them, and how close you get, hugging is just not a part of the dynamic. Or am I wrong? Does it mean that the friends I consider close who I rarely if ever hug are really not as close to me as the ones I hug? Well, I guess I sort of know the answer to that question. Whether or not I hug the person doesn't necessarily mean I'd share deep dark secrets with them. I like to hug people but don't like to be hugged by people I don't consider close friends. Are you a hugger?

Posted on 2003-07-31 at 1:47 a.m. |