It is Sunday, February 22 and there are only 132 days until July 4^th, so let’s get those sparklers and fireworks ready.  Today we remember the birthdays of Tahmasp I, George Washington and Johnson P Mlambo.  On this day in 606 Sabinian ended his reign as Catholic Pope, in 1923 the first successful chinchilla farm in the US was started and in 1979 St Lucia gained independence from Britain.  It is Girl Guides Thinking Day in the British Commonwealth, Donkey Races Day in the Virgin Islands and Brotherhood Day worldwide.

I have been thinking about a number of issues lately, all coming to me during trips to the mall.  One thing I realized is that there is an untapped market that could develop into quite a business in malls that have more than one level.  I recently had the opportunity to watch people trying to go from one level to another using escalators.  I was amazed at the number of people who could not get on or off an escalator without a problem.  I watched one family approach the escalator to go up (naturally up – it was an escalator [why isn’t it called a decelerator if you are going down]) and it took them several minutes to actually get on.  There were several false starts and one of the young girls almost fell.

Until that day, I was unaware that it was such an ordeal for people.  These were not people who were looking at their phones and just missed the step.  These were people who were attentive, knew where they were and could not figure out how to get on and ride up.  I figure that I could stand next to the escalator and offer my services for a buck a person.  All I would have to do is take the dollar and then say “Now” when it was time to step on.  I could even offer classes in the mall that could be held before the stores open.  This could be a great income producer … or not.

Another thing I have noticed is that people do not walk properly any more.  They drag their feet and scuff along in boots that are apparently too heavy for them.  I remember when I was a kid my mother hollered at me when I walked like that.  I was always admonished to pick up my feet when I walked.  Based on how she was then, the way people walk today would have driven her crazy.  My question is why do they walk like that?  Are the boots really that heavy?  I’m guessing no because people walk the same way with flip flops in the summer.  Is it because the boots/flip flops do not fit?  I can understand that with flip flops, but based on the cost of some of those boots, they should fit a lot better.  The only thing I can figure is that they walk like that so people will notice them and their boots.  In the words of my mother, “Pick up your feet and walk like a normal human being.”

When I was a kid, the only time you wore a baseball cap was if you played on a baseball team.  Over time it became de rigueur to wear caps.  They made statements, advertised products, colleges, military affiliations, etc.  The goal was to get just the right curl on the brim so that you looked “cool” and tough.  Then came the fashion of wearing the caps backwards.  Somewhere along the line people thought that the brim was to protect your neck from the sun rather than your eyes.  Nowadays the style has changed and you only see people trying to pass as young wearing them backwards. 

For a short time it was popular to wear the cap with the brim off to the side.  More recently, the trend has been to wear the cap with the brim flat.  Sometimes the wearer leaves the company sticker on the brim.  I have noticed lately that a new style has begun to emerge.  The cap is being worn pulled down on the head and covering the tops of the ears.  I saw this recently on several different people and had two thoughts.  Why would you want to cover the tops of your ears and do realize how you look with your hat like that?  Now, I know that I am somewhat old-fashioned, but I still wear my cap with the brim rolled slightly and in the front.  So, if you ever see me with my cap down and covering my ears, ask me if I am okay.

While I was shopping a couple days ago I noticed some other things.  One is that it is becoming harder to buy clothing for people who are not skinny.  There are several stores that I frequent that carry very little in the way of what has become known as classic fit clothing.  Everything is slim fit.  Understand, I am not a fat person, but neither am I rail thin.  Out of curiosity, I attempted to try on a slim fit shirt.  The sleeves were so narrow that I could not get my hand through.  Clothing manufacturers and store buyers need to get out in public and look around.  From what I have seen, more people need classic fit than slim.  Does anyone realize that not- skinny people have money and want to buy clothing, too?

We are currently in the middle of a polar vortex pushing through our area.  Thank God for global warming.  If it weren’t for that we would be frozen in our houses, unable to get out until spring … but I digress.  As I was saying it has been extremely cold, with real-feel temperatures in the single digits, hovering near 0.  B-r-r-r-r!  So I was in a store in the midst of this frigid weather and guess what – they have started putting out the shorts, short sleeved shirts and other summer items.  Are you kidding?  By the time I would need those items, I will have forgotten that I bought them or where I put them.  Then I will need to go and buy them again, but by then I will only be able to get flannel shirts and winter coats.  

I wonder if stores realize how difficult this is for people?  As an example, consider what it is like for parents of young kids.  The way children grow, the clothing you buy now will probably not fit them by the time the summer comes and, as I said before, try finding summer clothing in the summer.  The only benefit will be that whatever you do find will probably be on the clearance rack.

This week our fact tells us that if you bring a raccoon’s head to the Henniker, New Hampshire town hall, you are entitled to receive $.10 from the town.  Of course they will charge you a lot more than that to help you get rid of the rest of the raccoon.

Happy Washington’s Birthday!