The Way We Were

 

It turns out that many of you have Mall memories. I’ve been excited to read them as they come in. I’m both fascinated and confused by the Columbia concept of Mall as Main Street so I’m always willing to learn more from folks who have been here longer than I have. 

That being said, the memories submitted so far are fairly well divided between recollections of businesses past and personal experiences. See if these spark any memories for you:

Lots of food and friends memories: Barry’s Pizza, Taco Laredo, All you Can Eat Shrimp at________(blanking on the name); Bun Penny, seeing the bands/artists there before and after concerts at Merriweather, and knowing nearly everyone we passed walking from Hecht’s to Woodies.

The Girl Scout Columbia Mall Sleep-In.

My favorite mall memory is not really a specific time or place but I have always enjoyed walking around a mall and just "window shopping" so when my children we just babies/toddlers I took them always with me. We would never spend a dime - just look around, play in the children's play area, and get whatever free samples the vendors handed out.  It was many a day that my kids would prefer to go to the mall and get "free sample" - I think they thought it was the actual name of a smoothie until they were well into middle school.

I’ll share what I hope is one from my daughter: when we moved to Columbia our family was young and she was under 5 years old. Our neighbor across the street ran a child care facility that we would use several days each week. Thursdays were Family Fun Days and the child care owner would pack all her wee charges into her mini van with the multi-seat stroller and take them to the mall for puppet shows, playing in the kids area, demos from Build a Bear, crafts, whatever. I was never able to attend since I worked outside of the home. I would have liked to see the child care pro navigate the mall with everyone! 

The 80s- Potowmack Toys was such a favorite for my kids. But it was so hard to help them to transition out of the store!

I always used to look forward to family dinners at the Jade Palace. And birthday parties at the Mall McDonald's!

Probably my most memorable experience - I was Christmas shopping with my son - he was probably 4. We were in the Disney store; he was watching videos in the "movie pit" and I took my eyes off him for a minute.  He was gone! We looked everywhere.  I often dressed him in tie dye when we went to the mall or other crowded spaces so I could pick him out easily.  And the mall was very familiar space to him, not only because I went there a lot but because my sister worked there. Anyway,  I started freaking out and just was asking anybody if they saw a little boy in a tie dye. One lady was coming in and said she thought she saw him heading towards the escalator.. Long story short I had promised him that we would go see Santa when we were done shopping and lo and behold that is where I found him; downstairs, standing in line to see Santa!

Being the Easter Bunny. I even got a letter from a fan.

And here’s one from someone who came along later, like me:

As someone who came here 7 years ago, I found it strange that the community’s downtown was a mall. I came from communities where everyone was trying to save the traditional downtowns, urban centers, from the growing suburban malls. It still feels strange.

I tend to forget what a new “cutting edge” experience malls were at the time that Columbia was founded. The choice to put a mall at the center of the new community was not unlike the amenities we see Howard Hughes focusing on in the Merriweather District. The Columbia Mall was the precursor to the “Lifestyle Plaza.” 

And before that? What lay at the heart of earlier communities? Village greens. Town squares. Still going strong in many places.

I wonder what our memories of the Merriweather District will be in fifty years.

People, Government, and a Good Life

I realize now that the reason public television was running the documentary on Frances Perkins last night was because of Labor Day and not, as I had supposed, because she is a fascinating person and more people ought to know about her. Ms. Perkins was a graduate of Mount Holyoke, a women’s college where I studied and graduated in the last century. While I’m not a fan of every notable alumna, Frances Perkins is one of the greats. 

Frances Perkins, FDR’s Secretary of Labor and the first woman to serve as a cabinet secretary, was the driving force behind the New Deal, credited with formulating policies to shore up the national economy following the nation’s most serious economic crisis and helping to create the modern middle class. She was in every respect a self-made woman who rose from humble New England origins to become America’s leading advocate for industrial safety and workers’ rights. - - from FrancesPerkinsCenter.org

I’m thinking a lot about Frances Perkins these days as the pandemic has brought out quite a bit of anti-labor sentiment. It’s almost everywhere you look, spouted by politicians, business owners in newspaper articles, everyday rants on social media. You can spot almost immediately by the use of the word “they”. 

I refer you to two earlier posts, “The Truth About Choice” and “Still Need More Voice for Choice”.

I continue to be enraged by the attitude that “affluent people like us” are naturally responsible and trustworthy, while low-wage workers are treated like bad children. 

Whenever you see politicians and business owners holding forth on what “those people” need to do, you will know instantly that this kind of paternalism is at work. 

The pastor of my church preached yesterday about how we look at the poor and homeless. Something she said struck me enough that I got out a pen and wrote it down. I’m paraphrasing here:

We tend to look at the homeless and think their circumstances are because of bad choices. We don’t see the jobs whose wages are too low to pay the rent that is too high, the inadequate or nonexistent health care, the lack of transportation access, the food deserts which prevent healthy eating. We just look and think, “bad choices.”

But everybody makes bad choices. Even I make bad choices sometimes. But our bad choices are generally hidden away by the privacy afforded us by having homes. - - The Rev’d Lura Groen

“The privacy afforded us by having homes.” Wow. Think of all the ways you get the benefit of the doubt in life because you have that very basic privacy. 

The same is true when it comes to jobs and who is afforded the luxury of having a choice. Low-wage earners are often looked at as occupying that place in the work force due to some shortcomings on their part. The fact that these judgements are made by people who have choices every day - - that make their continued well-being possible - - is is an irony which is not lost on me.

Today is Labor Day. People like Frances Perkins made it their life’s work to give Americans more choices: opportunities for fair wages, reasonable work hours, safer working conditions, the possibility of redress. Yet in Maryland we have a Republican Governor who is far more interested in forcing “those people” back to work by prematurely cutting off their benefits than he is in taking personal responsibility for making sure that the Maryland workers who have filed for unemployment due to the pandemic get the assistance that is owed them by law. 

This Labor Day I am, more than ever, interested in electing public servants who talk the talk and walk the walk of Frances Perkins. 

The people are what matter to government, and a government should aim to give all the people under its jurisdiction the best possible life.

It is clear from the legacy she left for American workers that Frances Perkins’ goal was to extend to lower economic groups what the affluent thought was their by right: the ability to make choices about their own lives. 

Mall Memories

 

I’m feeling a tinge of regret this morning for being perhaps a bit dismissive of the upcoming celebration of the Mall in Columbia’s 50th birthday. I saw some photos online yesterday of truly cool stuff going on - - the new Pop-Up Library Van and also dancing lessons from Toby’s - - and it struck me that getting people together to celebrate is more than a public relations strategy. It’s also an opportunity for people to be together after a long time of being isolated due to COVID. 

Yes, everyone should still stay masked at this point but it is safe enough to come out and have some fun, and there’s something very therapeutic in that for many people. The healing power of legitimate fun cannot be underestimated.

And of course it can’t hurt if people come on down to the mall and spend money. That is the point, after all.

I got to thinking yesterday about my favorite Mall memory and wondering if other people had one, too. Way back when I first came to Columbia I had the rare opportunity to see my future husband at a gig. It was a very last minute gig. The tuba player had called in sick. So over to the Mall he raced and we came along a bit later. What we saw: Santa arriving at the Mall in Columbia for the holiday season heralded by a small brass ensemble: dressed as reindeer. 

They paraded all around the Mall playing seasonal classics. We followed. And giggled at the sight of these top-notch brass players in antlers. It was delightful. Epic, as the young folks say. 

It was a gig, as my future husband said. It very likely paid for groceries or a nice dinner. 

So that’s my favorite Mall memory. What’s yours? If I get enough I will use them for a future post. I think it could be both enlightening and fun. With some nostalgia thrown in. 

I daresay that many of my readers can recall this classic Mall moment, if only from video footage. 

One last Mall memory, although not in the Mall proper, is this. 

You Make the Call

 In yesterday’s news:

 Bill For Hogan Administration Litigation Over Unemployment Benefits Totals More Than $380,000, Danielle E. Gaines, Maryland Matters

Remember when the Governor decided to file suit in order to cut off pandemic unemployment benefits early? That’s how much it cost Maryland taxpayers: somewhere in the neighborhood of $380,000.00. Oh, and he lost. Twice. According to the article, a spokesman for the Governor stated that the benefits were damaging the Maryland economy and small businesses. Not mentioned by the Governor’s spokesman Mike Ricci: Maryland workers, families with children, individual human beings whose lives have been upended by the pandemic.

They don’t even warrant a mention.

So, today, let’s play a little version of “you make the call” in honor of Governor Hogan’s $380,000 boondoggle. Let’s say you are the Governor of the state of Maryland right now. What do you think would be a good use of $380,000 of taxpayer money?

Some suggestions:

• Using it to move forward at great speed all the languishing unemployment claims from desperate Marylanders.
• Adding it to funds to update air conditioning and heating in Baltimore City Schools.
• Reimbursing the state for Roy McGrath’s questionable spending.
• Putting it towards legitimate public transit improvements.
• Purchasing masks and sanitizing supplies for schools in low income areas.

And that’s just a start. I’m sure you have great ideas, too. If you don’t have any serious suggestions, I’m happy to entertain silly ones.

It is Saturday after all. We can be forgiven for a little silliness. But, since it’s Labor Day Weekend, any responses which honor/elevate Maryland workers will receive my prompt attention.

…but the Kitchen Sink

Last night I stepped out of the house to head down to the Village Center to pick up some dinner. It was around six o’clock. The weather was glorious. I immediately noticed how many people were out and about. It was one of those “I love my neighborhood” moments. It had the joyful quality of that first day in  Spring that truly leans towards summer. 

As I drove down the street I saw a young girl and her grandparents making up a game on the sidewalk. Some sort of bicycling club went by on my left. It was almost as though I was on a film set of my neighborhood and someone had yelled “action” right before I left the house.

It was a lovely reminder of community. 

A few things today:

Someone has absconded with two of the much-loved Enchanted Forest sculptures from Clark’s Elioak Farm. 

Photo credit: Keith Kridenoff

I can’t imagine who would do such a thing. If they are hoping to make some money by selling them I think they will find that anyone in the vicinity will know where they came from and be extremely dubious as to their provenance. I’m trying to imagine someone willing to walk off with them because they really wanted them in their own personal garden display. It doesn’t seem likely to me. 

Anyway, it’s just sad and I hope they find their way home soon.

The Columbia Association has picked finalists in their “name the Aqua Mower” contest. Sadly, neither of my entries made the cut. Here are the lucky five:  Munchie, Weedinator, Chompers, Harvey The Harvester and Big Blue. You can vote once per day here to help them choose the winner. The person whose name comes out on top will receive a 100 dollar CA gift card and will get to participate in the name reveal photo opp. Not to mention bragging rights. 

Speaking of bragging rights, the folks over at Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods must have been thrilled yesterday to make the announcement that this year’s Chrysalis Kids series will wrap up with a performance by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. In their first visit to the Chrysalis, the BSO will present Peter and the Wolf and will include contributions from Wordsmith. Visit the event page to learn more about this free concert and Eventbrite to reserve your free tickets. 

I was pretty jazzed up to learn recently that Howard County is the home to an up-and-coming jockey. Did you know that? Charlie Marquez, a Columbia native, is one of the youngest jockeys in the US right now. Marquez recently took the Leading Jockey title at the conclusion of the Preakness Meet at Pimlico in August. Now that I know, I’ll be keeping an eye on his career to see where he goes next.

I must admit I haven’t gotten all that excited about the upcoming celebrations for the Mall in Columbia’s 50th birthday. This probably stems from the fact that I didn’t grow up here and that I’ve always had a general ambivalence towards the Mall. However, I am excited about the Columbia Archives’ contributions to the celebration.

Did you know that the Mall in Columbia started as the city's Main Street? In honor of its 50th anniversary (!), Columbia Archives is pulling out alll the fascinating factoids with their new exhibit, "The Heart of a New Town: The Mall in Columbia." Come check it out on the second floor of the mall, next to Sephora!

Photo credit: Columbia Association

What can I say? I’m a sucker for popular history. Perhaps I’ll pop over and take a look. You can learn more about upcoming Mall events here.

Finally, a big HoCo Holler to all the parents, students, teachers, support staff, admin, crossing guards, bus drivers - - EVERYBODY - - who have been making their way through the beginning of this school year. I know it’s hard. My heart is with you and I hope it gets easier.

More to the Story: Chief William Goddard and his Legacy

I want to begin today with a piece I wrote almost seven years ago. When you get to the end, keep reading, because there is more to the story. - - jam

 @HCDFRS_Chief

November 23, 2014

I recommend to you today a man I have never met: Bill Goddard. I have come to respect him solely from my interactions with him on Twitter. I can't remember when I started following him, but it may have been in the aftermath of the shooting at the mall. His Twitter feed has been unfailingly polite, supportive of the community, informative, and wise.

On November 21st, County Executive-elect Alan Kittleman announced that Mr. Goddard had resigned. The Sun article lays the groundwork for the possibility that this was not a decision the Fire Chief came to all by himself. New political administrations apparently have the right to shake things up, bring in their own people. The spoils of war, you know.

Be that as it may, my gut tells me that this is a good, hard-working man who has served Howard County well, and that this is a loss for us. I am not an expert in the fire department. After all, you might say, I only know him on Twitter. What could I know?

I challenge you to go to his Twitter feed and just read. Go back as far as you are able--it's only 140 characters at a time, after all. I think you will get a sense of what I did. This is a humble, very human public servant. Among other things, I think he may be the father of a teacher, because he never missed an opportunity to remind his readers of the dedication and value of those who go into the classroom every day and work with kids.

And maybe that made me like him even more. Just maybe.

This quote from Tom Coale is a reminder of what kind of risks are inherent in a fire fighter's life:

This afternoon, I found myself alongside the funeral cortege for Baltimore City firefighter Lt. James E. Bethea as it went north on 83. As I saw uniformed men and women standing on top of fire engines saluting from the overpass, I thought about how much we hear the term "public servant" during election season without really thinking about what it means. I am thankful there are people in this world like James Bethea; true public servants who risk their lives every day without title or recognition. It is a horrible tragedy every time they are lost.

Take a minute to go on Twitter and thank Mr. Goddard. I think it will mean a lot to him.

*****

As you may have already seen, yesterday brought the sad news that Bill Goddard had died of cancer. I was both saddened by the loss and grateful for the many statements on social media mourning his passing and acknowledging his service to Howard County. 

The first thing that came to mind for me was how much he loved his daughter, who he wrote about all the time on Twitter. I had come to learn that she was a teacher, that she participated in pageants, but, most of all, that she was a light in Chief Goddard's life. With all his knowledge and accomplishments, Goddard was almost always more likely to write Tweets about Jordyn.

I went to Twitter to see if I could find her to tell her that and I discovered that there was more to the story. You can learn about it here:

 Teacher, Beauty Queen Trades Classroom for Firehouse (May, 2020)

Learning that Jordyn Goddard, at the age of twenty-eight, set aside her career to become a firefighter truly moved me. Her Twitter feed shows her committing herself to her life as a firefighter while simultaneously revealing that father was foremost in her thoughts. I don’t want to skim off of her life or her grief for the good of a blog post, but I do want to share this:

“Chief Goddard, all these videos were in your honor.”

My heart is full. The love here is evident, as is the dedication to service, the determination to learn more, and become better at the career she chose, quite possibly, in honor of her father. 

I always got the feeling that Chief Goddard had raised his daughter to believe she could do anything, and that he truly believed she could. While Howard County mourns a dedicated public servant, the world has lost a truly great dad as well. 

Free and Associating

 

On August 31st, after the second day of school, I spotted the question of a concerned parent wanting to know if students were being led through the Pledge of Allegiance because theirs hadn’t been.

The conversation which followed contained the usual. 

• Mine have.
• It’s early yet.
• Why do you ask?
• That’s not my biggest concern right now.
• Ooh. This is important. We have to keep an eye on this.

Not surprisingly, when someone suggested this was not a big deal, one of the time honored tropes of the Right reared its ugly head. You know, “If you don’t think saying the Pledge to the Flag is important I’ll be happy to put you on a plane to some God-forsaken country.” Essentially, the argument is that if you don’t say the Pledge you don’t honor our nation, and freedom, and…all that stuff. (Generally not articulated very well.)

Why is this always the way? Why is this so often the response from a certain political mindset? 

• If you don’t like it here, go to_____________.
• If you disagree you don’t have a right to be here.
• Go back where you came from.

In general the Left and the Left-leaning don’t do this. I have seen comments after elections that reminded some on the Right that they had pledged to leave the country if their candidate lost, and that it was perfectly fine if they wanted to follow through on that…

But that’s more of an arched eyebrow. The Right jumps at the chance to shout, “Get out and stay out!”

And yet here we all are. I don’t like everybody and I don’t agree with everybody and I think we all need to be working to make the country better for everyone. I get angry and frustrated (particularly in response to COVID anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers) but it has never occurred to me to tell people they don’t have a right to be here because they disagree with me.

Here in Howard County there are people who essentially think that I (or maybe you) should be expatriated because we don’t believe in the required recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in our schools. I’m trying to figure out what I think about that. 

I think perhaps that they, or probably all of us, could benefit from daily recitation of poetry , or speeches that really make you think. Or story books that draw us together for the common good. 

It is my personal opinion that many of those who are of the “My Country: Love It or Leave It” variety don’t particularly want liberty and justice for all. There is absolutely no point in having a pledge, let alone requiring it to be said, if our commitment is not for all. The flag is not a weapon with which to beat down those who are different than we are. It is not a blanket to cover up dissent. 

It is not a sword, it should be a ploughshare.