Waiting.

Oh, the holidays.

What a wonderful time of year.

I have the supreme privilege to work at a mall during this festive season. Not just any mall. THE mall of Dallas.

I get to drive around the parking lot for 20 minutes trying to find a spot to park... which usually ends up being on the 6th floor of the parking garage- on the OPPOSITE side of the mall from the store I work.

After that, I get to hike across the heaps of rude people who don't understand that a mall hallway is much like a road. YOU STAY TO THE RIGHT... you wouldn't drive your car into oncoming traffic would you?

Next comes my store. It stays busy most the time (that isn't the problem.) The problem is that amongst all the Christmas hustle and bustle there is still THAT lady that needs a whole new face. Nevermind that there are 50 other people all striving for your help. Nevermind that there are no appointments available. NEVERMIND THAT YOU JUST DEALT WITH 5 OTHER PEOPLE THAT WERE EXACTLY LIKE HER.

But alas, says my ass, there was a lady named Marsha that changed my opinion on little old ladies in holiday sweaters. Whilst our store was blaring our Holiday Musak. Whilst people are bumping each other left and right. Whilst, Whilst and Whilst. Marsha had pulled me through the madness to help her with the "fatty tissue" under her eye.

My thought: " Madam, those are called bags. Face it."

Good thing I didn't speak too soon. (Not that I EVER would have actually said that.) Marsha went on to tell me that she was 65 years old.

I said,of course:" Well, I do declare Miss Marsha! I reckoned you weren't a day over 35!" (In those words more or less.... I just thought the statement could use a southern twist.)

She then told me she had the best legs out of anyone in the whole store.... Then retracted: The best legs in Texas!

She had me at "Best legs in texas."

As the makeup application continued she went on to say she doesn't believe in presents at Christmas, that in Ireland I would be called a Ginger and that she can crack walnuts with her teeth.

I suspected that she began to pick up on the-me-being-gay-thing.... Because after I told her my background is in theatrical makeup ( Oh, that's my way of saying I learned makeup from being a drag queen.... without having to actually say it. Get it?) AFTER I told her my background in "theatrical makeup" she immediately started using words like:

Fabulous.

Stunning.

Glamorous.

Miss Thing.

Ferocia.

Tops.

Bottoms.

The "t".

Miss Girl.

Lady.

Boots.

The House.

Cunty Fierce.

...ok maybe she didn't use most of those words... The point is that she had that extra flick of the hand and twinkle in her eye from that point on.

As we wrapped things up she shifted into a very serious posture. Lightly placed her hand on mine and looked me straight in the eye.

"Joshua," she said " I want you to know that you should never let what people think of you get you down. I am SIXTY FIVE damn years old and I could WHIP ANYBODIES ASS if I wanted to. I have lived this long with that as my motto and I'll live another 65 years saying the same damn thing." Then she finished it off with- "You just sit on THAT one for a while."

I consider that to be my gift for the holidays this year. Not the encouraging words from the little old lady about being yourself. BUT the fact that that little old lady told a 27 year old gay guy to " SIT on THAT for a while."

Just kidding. It really was the encouraging part that was the "gift". Not the pervy sitting on it thing.

The point of the story is that you should keep your eyes open to everything around you this holiday season. Love is in the air but it's easy to overlook it when your caught in the hype.

XXXX

Joshua

Disclaimer: I love my job and all the people I deal with on a daily basis. Any negative slant in this story was purely to carry the story and set the mood.

NEW YORK UPDATE: The interview went well. It was short and sweet and I'll hear back in about a week.