The Gardens Mall
I don't know if it's fair to call this place a mall. But, I also don't know what else I'd call it. So I guess we're stuck with the name. Why, you may ask? Well, just take a good look at the thing! It all begins in the parking lot. Palm tree after palm tree, fountain after fountain, garden after garden. It's like you're driving through a plant nursery before you even set eyes on the building. When a parking lot is picture worthy, you know something's off. They've got a lot of money down here, and they're certainly not bashful to flaunt it. Palm trees...lined neatly outside of Nordstrom? A waterfall? Really? Is that even necessary?! Why of course! The outside has to match the inside! When I took my first step into this mall back in September, I gasped. Literally. They have ORANGE TREES growing inside! Flower beds (although fake), shrubbery, statues and flower pots are generously placed throughout the mall's expansive walkways. And in the very center of it all, 6 live palms and one beautifully dancing water fountain. It's absolutely gorgeous. Absolutely mesmerizing. And I can't seem to get over the fact that this is considered normal. But, in fact, it is. It's normal only when Saks, Michael Kors, Burberry, Louis Vuitton, and Sworovski actually have a steady flow of paying customers. We don't even window shop most of the stores. Macys and Nordstrom are just fine in our book!
(Side story):
Over Christmas, Adam was trying to find me a pair of black heels. Neither of us had ever been into Bloomingdales, and thought it might be something comparable to Macys. NOT SO! We walked over to the heel section, and they were all quite beautiful. But then I started noticing the words Jimmy Choo everywhere. I giggled, but Adam had no idea what he was looking at. He settled on a pair of gorgeous heels and I told him how much I liked them. They were perfect. He likes shoe shopping for me, so I had him excited for a few moments.Then I told him to flip it over. Yeah, six hundred and fifty dollars later. He set it down, exchanged a look of horror, and we left immediately. Haven't been back since.
(End Side Story)
When Adam originally showed up to Florida (back in August), he learned very quickly what his work wardrobe was to resemble. Collared shirts and closed toed shoes were the requirement. Well, he didn't bring any with him, so that first day, he visited this mall, desperately searched for a few suitable shirts, and has been wearing them to work ever since. We bought a few more when I arrived, but he only has about a week's worth of them. And it's been working just fine. But that's all changed now. The manager of the entire Marlin minor league system established a new rule this year. Adam's not allowed to leave the house ever, if he's not wearing a collared shirt. Farewell t-shirts and v-necks. But seven collared shirts just aren't going to cut it anymore. So, a shopping day it was. Because in this family, you're not allowed to stink. And when Adam comes home from the field in his sweaty collared shirt, he stinks. Well, now his closet is a little fuller, he doesn't stink, and I'll be the first to admit that I owe his manager a hug or flowers or something. Adam looks good in those shirts. I'm loving the manly sharpness of his new style. And if he's caught not sporting a collar? Breakfast Club's 5AM workouts. He's already endured two of them for his tardiness last week, so I can't imagine him ever breaking the rule. (Fist pump!) Haha.
Aaaaaaaaand...Adam throws in his first Spring Training game tomorrow!!!!!!! He still doesn't know what time, but it's against the Cardinals and he'll throw two innings. So. Excited. It's like Christmas Eve here!
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