I was staying a mile from the Mall of America and had a few hours to spare.

I didn’t need anything, but I didn’t want to be alone in the hotel room.

So, I went. 

I parked and texted myself where I parked so I didn’t forget.

Level 3.
Indiana.
East.
12 D.

I left my coat in the car and quickly walked through the cold and into the mall.

I followed a man with lime green hair.

My first stop was Caribou Coffee.

I needed to fuel my people watching.

I slowly sipped the hot coffee as I made my way around the zoo.

I mean the mall. 

I turned a corner and accidentally ran into a lady carrying 6 bags.

I wanted to tell her that she had a lot of baggage, but I am starting to practice self-control.

I saw a large man in a kilt.
He took big steps like he was on a mission.
We made eye contact and he looked at me with eyes that said, “What are you looking at?”
I’ve always just assumed that if you’re wearing a kilt in public you want to be looked at.
I guess I was wrong.

I took the escalator and saw a dad teaching his daughter how to ride it.
She didn’t seem interested and they walked towards the elevator. 

I saw the man with lime green hair again.

I walked in and out of stores before a man at a kiosk offered me a sample of a new drink that had a couple of letters in it.
CBD or TCH or LMNOP in it.
I can’t remember.

I waved my hand and said no thanks.

I admire anyone who works at a kiosk.
They have patience and are able to handle rejection well.

I saw the man with lime green hair again.

I overheard a man ask his wife if she wanted anything from Victoria’s Secret.
She gave him a look and he shrugged his shoulders.

A man asked me if I knew where the Eddie Bauer store was.
I guess that says a lot about the way I dress.
Level 2. South side.

I saw 12 Taylor Swift tour hoodies.
I heard 10 Minnesotans say, “Ope!”
There were 8 people in line to get tattoos.
I rode 1 roller coaster. 
I went into 9 stores.
I wanted to pet 3 service dogs.
I saw 5 people wearing a Kevin Garnett jersey.
I was tempted by Great American Cookies 6 times.
I saw 2 lost pacifiers.
I thought about going to Cinnabon no less than 14 times, but again, I have started practicing self-control.
I avoided 7 herds of middle schoolers.
I took the escalator 21 different times.
I walked 6, 291 steps. 
I checked my pockets at least 15 times to make sure I still had my phone, keys, and wallet.
I was there for 2 hours and 24 minutes.

And it was worth every minute.

About the Author

Tanner Olson is an author, poet, speaker, and podcaster living in Nashville, Tennessee.

He is the author of I’m All Over the Place, As You Go, Walk A Little Slower, and Continue: Poems and Prayers of Hope.

You can find Tanner Olson’s books on Amazon.

His podcast is The Walk A Little Slower Podcast with Tanner Olson and can be found wherever you listen to podcasts.

Tanner Olson travels around the country sharing poetry, telling stories, and delivering messages of hope.

You can follow Tanner Olson on Instagram (@writtentospeak) and Facebook where you’ll daily find encouraging words of faith and hope.