About a month ago I decided to tag along with a good friend of mine to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Despite traveling through much of America, I’d never been to the land o’ lakes. It was time, and the price was right: free. My friend was going up there anyways and the passenger seat was empty.
I hemmed and hawed, thinking about my budget. In recent months I’ve become a bit mad about saving money. Heck, I’ve come undone by a mere $4 book that I avoided! But that militancy towards my budget has largely paid off. My savings has quickly ballooned.
Nonetheless, I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to join in the fun and meet some new people. The drive, about five hours from Iowa City, Iowa to Minneapolis, Minnesota, is through some of the more fertile land in America. This is truly where our food comes from. Always a suburb or city-boy at heart, I quickly displayed my naivete when I incorrectly labeled corn stalks as, “ahhh, look at that, they’re growing soybeans!” Yeah, I was out of my element.
When we finally closed in on the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, I was pumped to be in this new city. Whenever I’m out of my home cities, I feel a powerful urge to be both anxious and excited — all at once. That rush was endless, as around every corner there was something new and different about the Twin Cities. I loved it!
Along the way, my friend said, “Is there anything you want to do in particular? Is there anything you really want to see?” With a wistful, targetless attitude, I suggested that I was open to anything, but had no idea where to go next. That’s when he said, “How about we check out the Mall of America?”
Instantly, this rush of excitement filled me. Think about all of the numerous shops and stores and restaurants! The Mall of America was founded in 1992 and has about 7,900,000 square feet of space, which is spread out between a shocking number of floors and land. Walking into this place, it’s like an amusement park; in fact, there’s one built-in to the mall!
I soon turned to my friend and said the most obvious thing I could think of, “This place is just made for people to consume and buy more stuff.” Clouded and in shock, I decided to walk into a coffee shop and imbibe a small one. The two of us, propped onto some cushy couches and people watched.
There were women barely wearing anything — bursting out of their skintight clothing. There were families battling for the next choice in destination. There were young people and old.
Finally, we decided it was time to go. As we made our departure, a family asked nearby shoppers to take a picture of them. They had one child in their stroller, who was saddled with bags upon bags of new clothing. In the middle of taking another picture — curiously positioned in front of an elevator — the child fell backwards, as the weight of the bags outweighed the young one.
I turned to my friend and couldn’t help laughing aloud. Here we were in consumption central, and someone had loaded this stroller so full of products that the child was no longer safe. Somehow it spoke to me. Why are we buying like this when we know that the environment is suffering and the total U.S. consumer debt stands at a whopping $11.4 trillion? The family, curiously, just propped the kid back up in the stroller and resumed the photos — bags still weighing down the stroller. They certainly put new meaning to the cliche, “Shop till you drop.”
Now, as Minneapolis develops a light rail system to and from the airport and city, those on an airport layover needn’t see the metropolis. Instead, you can just hop on the public transportation directly to the Mall and buy endlessly. You don’t even need to see the local culture!
Like surviving a crazy amusement ride, I feel like I need a t-shirt that says, “I went to the Mall of America and all I bought was a coffee.”
Oh. My. Gosh. That is hilarious and awful!
Nice work, only getting a coffee. I would have done some shopping 🙂 I do have a taste for a decent amount of consuming, myself.
I lived in the Twin Cities from 1991 to 2009 and never once entered the Mall of America. It wasn’t hard! 🙂
Lived within a day trip of the MOA for two years. Never once been tempted to go… I can’t help but feel sorry for that poor child, though. I’m sure you guys wouldn’t have laughed if the child was injured, I’m just more concerned about the materialism of the parents and the environment the kid might be raised in.
I hope you at least went to Caribou Coffee to experience so local tastiness! I go to the Mall of America on a weekly basis, as it is the mall closest to me about 10 min. It helps to know your way around. I get in and go where I need to go. It is fun to people watch. Best tip for the mall: Never go on the weekends, its crazy busy.
So many malls have closed down in our area. There is one left. You’d think there’d be more in a cold, snowy environment like this. I can’t remember the last time I went to the mall though. It’s about 20 miles away. If it was closer, I think I’d go every day. Not to shop, but to mall walk and people watch. Early in the morning, before the real crowds descend on the place. I would love to see the Mall of America though. It sounds like a feast for the senses! Congrats on curbing the temptation to buy Buy BUY! Nice job! You are an inspiration to us all! 🙂
What smug garbage. How about next time you visit a city with a robust art, outdoor, music, and entertainment culture, you write an article highlighting those instead praising yourself for exceptional fortitude in avoiding the “temptation” of a mall that you could have just as easily skipped.
Thanks for your thoughtful response to my article about consumptive behaviors. It seems like you have a lot of pride for your city, which I’m happy to see. In my brief visit to the Twin Cities, I was very fortunate to see much of the beauty — but certainly understand there’s much more out there. As for your critique of my decision to visit the Mall, I must compliment your extreme level of troll-like pessimism. -S.
Haha! Sounds like something I would do. I love getting coffee and people watching! The last time I was in a mall it was just to use their restroom. I was overwhelmed, horrified, and anxious to get outta there ASAP! That stroller-bag story is a perfect analogy for consumer culture–whoa.
Yeah, I generally go into malls and think, “so much useless “stuff””. As for the women and clothing, I am not a fan of this crop top trend and the high waisted shorts that go up the ass. It really blows my mind when people wearing such skimpy outfits are in terrible shape.
I really don’t enjoy the malls much anymore either! The poor child laden with a bunch of bags, but I can see the funny in it 🙂
I try to avoid malls because it seems like they try to assault all of your senses at once. With the bright flashy lights, loud music and all kinds of smells, I get tired fast. Though I would like to visit Minneapolis one day. Funny post.
Whenever my wife and I go to big malls, she uses it as excuse for a lot of walking. We hardly ever buy anything (not even coffee!) but she’s an avid walker and she says it’s the only constructive thing we can do there…so we walk.
I’ve been to the MOA once, but it was pre-debt attack mode and I spent about $150 on a watch from Fossil and a jacket. One nice thing about the MOA is no sales tax, so if it’s something you were going to buy anyway, might as well get it there if you have room to get it home. 🙂 I was flying so space was limited, which made me not buy too much while I was there.
That is pretty funny. I’m on a bit of a savings kick myself. Though the story about the baby certainly puts things into perspective. I get anxious in malls to many people and usually only go with the intention to buy something specific. Next time I’ll try people watching!
Haha @ shop till you drop. Malls drain my energy. I’m not gonna lie, I enjoy shopping and I’m often tempted by consumerism. But malls just depress the hell out of me. Like Syed says–an assault on all the senses. Just makes me sleepy.
Kristin,
Glad you liked that cheesy joke! 😉
The Mall of America is probably one of the biggest assaults on the senses you’ll ever see, then. Maybe someday you can check it out and let me know what you think.
Sam