12.6

I remember coming here to try on some dresses for prom one year in high school. There was a locally owned store in here that sold fancy dresses. It was basically a thrift shop for high school girls in the spring and fall. And it was certainly tiny. They had it stuffed full of frilly skirts and the walls were lined with silk and sparkle. I didn’t want any of that, though. I wanted something simple. But apparently, simple is the most expensive.. and hardest to find in my size.

This “mall” is really just a hallway lined with more stores in the center of a larger strip mall. I’ve always thought that to be funny. They thought of themselves as a completely separate unit. I guess it would have been fine, had they been a thriving community. Instead, I rarely saw more than 3 open stores/businesses in there. And I don’t know when, but practically every business in this whole area went under. Expect Secretary of State. Those fuckers drain money out of citizens.

I never bought anything from this dress shop. There really wasn’t anything I’d wear. But I did get a few hilarious pictures. One in particular of my rear in a weird stringy mesh thing. And thinking back, I’m pretty sure I went shopping with my Grandma. How weird is that. So, I’ll just edit that memory to replace her with my bestie. That sounds so much better.

3.23

I remember this place being so much bigger. It seems shorter, too. And much lonelier. I only attended that school for kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade. I remember the library being obnoxiously small, but that didn’t stop me from spending all my tooth fairy money at the book fair. There’s also a long hallway that led to all the older kids’ classrooms. I never ventured down there, even as I became one of those older kids. I just happened to have rooms all in the same corner. The gym also seemed ginormous back then. Running from one wall to another took forever with my little legs. That also happened to be our cafeteria. It could morph into a hall with long tables within minutes, but for some reason, that never struck me as incredible like the other kids thought. I just wanted my food.

The reason I hold this building dear is for the year I spent in kindergarten. That class was beyond fun. We had our own private playground for recess, and two ducklings as pets that we hatched ourselves. That year also happened to be my teacher’s last. I felt so special to be a part of her retirement. She even let us bury time capsules, but that’s a whole other story. I do still see her sometimes; we’re both volunteers for a local non-profit. And I find it kind of depressing that she doesn’t remember me – I thought I stood out as a child.

That school has since been converted into something else. The township took it over and turned it into some sort of administration building. I think about 17 years cantered on by before I stepped foot in there again. And I remember being so disappointed at it’s remodeling. The classrooms were gone, the library was gone, and that long hallway didn’t hold the same prestige. I simply left with a downtrodden sigh.