Mall Walkers (audio story)

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The mall walkers of southern California are not at all what I expected. Lead by a study done by University of Essex, I was expecting to meet people who were falling deeper into a depression caused by indoor exercise. Instead I was encountered with a group singing Happy Birthday. It was Leslye’s father’s 91st birthday and all the walkers including their friends and family were celebrating at the mall, a place that several of them meet up 5 days a week for 30 minutes of walking and at least 30 more minutes of talking and relaxing. “On those few days that I don’t walk, it feels strange. I don’t have the energy or the pace that I normally do” comments one of the walkers as she chooses from the assortment of bagel and fruit spread laid out across the table in the food court. “What the mall doesn’t realize is that we turn this place into a restaurant every morning” says Naomi, a woman who shows up even though recent surgery has kept her from walking.

Five years ago several different groups of women decided to walk in their neighborhoods, local parks or at the gym. But eventually they all turned to the mall with its temperature controlled hallways, kosher kitchen and accessible bathrooms. These separate groups numbering 12 women in total, sharing the same schedule and routine eventually introduced themselves and from there an amazing friendship has developed. “To meet people at this age, that you get along with this well, is truly unusual,” comments Judy the oldest, but still very vibrant, member of the group. And this is where I discovered the real reason for walking the mall. It’s the group of people they do it with. They all carry around a laminated card with everyone’s phone numbers. Initially meant for use as emergency contact, they now use it for all sorts of social purposes. If anyone is ever on vacation they make sure to call or text the others during the hour period they’re at the mall just to check in.

It’s become more than a retreat to the climate controlled  hallways with accessible bathrooms and kosher coffee shops, it’s become a place to start their day with a little bit of exercise and a lot more of conversation.