Popcorn For Dinner - Mall Memories

A Memorable Birthday, a Weird Mall Moment, and Men

I’m Eating Popcorn for Dinner. Again. By Myself. On My Birthday.

Does it sound lonely or pitiful?  Actually, it’s the meal that pairs perfectly with a movie I’m not watching, and frankly, I’m totally okay with that. It can even make for a memorable birthday.

Is it a sign of something more profound? Does it represent independence? Resignation and acceptance? Maybe it’s simply a case of good ol’ gluttony and indulgence, or sheer decadence, depending on how much butter I added. Or quite possibly...It's about simplicity and contentment in the moment.

Popcorn Lovers

I love popcorn: butter, cheese, kettle, caramel, drizzled, seasoned, spicy, yellow, and purple. All of it! There are popcorn lovers like me everywhere. "According to the Popcorn Board Americans consume approximately 1.3 billion pounds of popcorn each year."

Somehow, over the years, I’ve found myself alone with a bucket of movie theater popcorn next to me on my birthday. Not while at the movie, mind you. Sometimes it’s in the mall, on a bench, or in my car on the ride home.

Memories of Popcorn, The Mall, And Men – Oh My!

One summer, I was at a lovely indoor mall, in the nice, air-conditioned theater lobby, settled on a big, high-backed, padded leather throne of a bench. I looked through the huge picture glass window at people heading toward a small side corridor of the mall where the restrooms were located. I continued observing as a rather odd little scene played out just 35 feet away.

I noticed the entrance door to the men’s restroom was propped open with a garbage can. And I mean completely wide open. "I thought surely it was bound to shut at any moment. Nope!  For thirty minutes, I watched this peculiar private movie unfold. Various men and boys washed and dried their hands, smoothed their hair, tucked in their shirts, adjusted themselves, checked their phones, and scurried back on their way- oblivious to this awkward lack of privacy. What the heck? Hello! Seriously?

Came for a snack... stayed for the unexpected parade

Through the Looking Glass

Popcorn, the mall, and men. Oh my! It was pretty weird, and felt rather voyeuristic that I was so curiously captivated and didn’t look away. Then I saw the ladies' restroom nearby wasn’t exposed to mall goers. I wondered who propped open that door, leaving a window to the world. Did the custodial crew forget or just not care?   

Sitting on my lobby throne with a semi-vacant gaze, I robotically reached into my bucket, chomping and munching with the satisfaction of just being in that moment: no time constraints or pressure, no family obligations, or agenda – just tranquility. After I’d had enough relaxing, snickering, and pondering on this perplexity, I wiped off my greasy hands and tossed the rest of the popcorn in the trash.  I didn’t even fret over wasting money on something I didn’t finish; normally, I would consider that a mortal sin.

Being in the Moment

In the end, it turned out to be a wonderful birthday memory. I’m sure I spent that evening with friends and family to celebrate, but that’s not what stands out after all these years. It’s that life’s special moments can merely sprout in the most unlikely places, without even searching.

So, here’s to popcorn dinners, fond memories, amusing observations, and the unexpected pleasure of simply being in the moment.

If you love popcorn too, check out our “Popcorn Is The Best Part Of The Movie" T-Shirt from Carefree Nook.

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