A Rainy Night At The Mall in '98 ✨ Nostalgia Bedtime Story For Sleep

[00:00:11] Hello and welcome back to Sleep Wave. I'm your host, Carissa Vacker, and I am so pleased to have you here tonight. This is our weekly free episode. If you've been enjoying this show, we'd love it if you'd become a subscriber. Details can be found below your podcast player. In tonight's story, we're venturing back in time to 1998. There, we follow in the steps of a young woman who decides to head to the Mall of America on a rainy evening.

[00:00:39] She takes in different sights and smells, chooses a few movies for the weekend, and wanders past the storefronts as the mall slowly starts to wind down. I was a child of the 90s, and my best friend and I would sit at lunch dreaming that we could go to the Mall of America. Truly, we could not imagine a more perfect place.

[00:01:02] Whether this was your childhood dream too, or not, enjoy this sweetly nostalgic trip tonight. Before we begin, our only ad break, which helps make this show possible. To listen ad-free, follow the link in the show notes. The shift from summer back to routine, back to the pace of things, can really take a toll on your sleep.

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[00:02:20] Beyond what's new, you'll also have access to our complete meditation library and our Pure Relaxation collection from August. Eight hours of guided rest. Where we'll head to Bali, enjoy time by the fireplace, and relax whilst watching the rain. It's all there with no ads and no interruptions. So if you're ready to get your sleep back on track, this could be the perfect time to join. 30% off Sleepwave end September 21st. See you there.

[00:02:49] Get comfy and cozy, and let's go to the mall, y'all. Now, take a moment to get comfortable where you are, and then note the feeling of your body resting. And slowly breathe in, letting your chest and stomach rise naturally.

[00:03:15] Pause, then exhale fully, releasing any tension or distracting thoughts with the breath. Now let your breathing return to a calm and natural rhythm. In and out, slow and steady.

[00:03:45] When you're ready, when you're ready, we can begin. One late afternoon, I was at home, alone, and the rain fell outside, a gentle tap-tap against the windows. I lay on the couch and listened. I had no plans, and so I decided to go to the mall.

[00:04:10] In the car, I heard the rain on the roof, and it calmed me as I drove. Pitter-patter, pitter-patter, pitter-patter. There was something so soothing and repetitive about the sound that allowed my thoughts to wander freely. I thought of the opening day at the Mall of America a few years back.

[00:04:37] I'd been a teenager then, and I'd been excited to join the crowds. Everyone had been excited. It had set the tone moving forward. Something huge and different. They called it a city within a city in the papers, and the phrase stuck with me.

[00:05:03] Since the opening, I'd grown up, gone to school out of state, then returned to Bloomington after graduation. This was always the place I came back to when I wanted to rest my mind. There was something so comforting about the Mall. In a way, there was so much to do, but also you could just wander and take it all in.

[00:05:34] Time didn't stand still, but it moved differently. I drove, and the rain continued to fall in a steady rhythm. Pitter-patter, pitter-patter. On the windshield, small droplets gathered. Some of them slowly moved downward, leaving thin trails behind them.

[00:05:59] I watched a few of them join together and then slide down the glass. The view through the windows was blurred by water. The road surface was dark, with faint reflections of nearby lights.

[00:06:23] I pulled into the lot at the mall, passing the big Lego pieces by the entrance that always put a grin on my face. I parked and waited for the rain to slow down. I stayed still and didn't turn on the wipers. The glass slowly gathered more and more water, but I could still see through it well enough.

[00:06:53] Inside the car, it felt quite apart from the rain. I wasn't doing anything else, just sitting and listening. There was no rush at all to get to the mall. I had the rest of the afternoon and all evening. The rain continued, and then, after a while, it slowed to a light drizzle.

[00:07:22] I stepped out of the car. It was easy to lose track of how long I had been there. Then, I walked into the mall. Memories bubbled up at all the nights I'd spent here as a teen. The evenings whooping with joy on the Pepsi Ripsaw at Camp Snoopy.

[00:07:48] First kisses on long cinema dates with a guy from school. Big bags of buttery popcorn and cups of soda. I thought of how I used to save up my earnings from my job at the drive-thru. Then head to the mall, thinking of all the things I'd be able to buy. I'd always try to save for something big.

[00:08:17] But I ended up going every week and blowing my paycheck on arcade games and candy. I didn't regret it at all. The mall would always have a special place in my heart. And I approached, looking up at the sign with a sense of comfort.

[00:08:40] I walked in, and a delicious smell wafted through the air. It was such a familiar scent. Garlic and warm bread. I followed my nose and headed straight for a free pretzel sample from the lady at her kiosk.

[00:09:05] She handed me a toothpick with a perfect square of pretzel. It was delicious. I thanked her and walked on. Looking up, hazy late afternoon light flooded down through the skylights above me. I couldn't hear the rain anymore, but there was the hum of people around me.

[00:09:34] I wandered through the mall. It was huge, with so many different ways to go. But I didn't think too hard. I just let my feet carry me onwards. At each corner there were department stores, and I walked from one to another.

[00:10:02] First, I headed to Nordstrom. I always loved looking at the different displays. Someone had put so much effort into making these scenes. Each one felt like a miniature stage, and often I was drawn in to have a browse. At Nordstrom, the display was minimal.

[00:10:26] The mannequins wore camel coats over their outfits, and the lights were soft. There was nothing in particular I needed. I was just browsing and enjoying the selection, and so I wandered on. I reached Sears, which was more practical as I knew I needed to get a refrigerator for my new place.

[00:10:55] I decided to head inside. It was quieter than I'd expected. The carpet muted my footsteps, and ceiling lights buzzed faintly overhead. Everything felt slightly oversized. Wide aisles, broad racks of clothes, and giant appliance sections with washing machines lined up.

[00:11:25] I took in a deep breath. The smell was just as I remembered it. Rubber tires from the auto center. Popcorn from a nearby stand. Detergent and new fabric. I'd chosen Sears because it held so many memories. I loved the store at Christmas. My mom and I always came to look at the window displays.

[00:11:54] The big toy sections, the decorated trees, and the TVs that glowed, playing the same movie trailer on loop. The holidays always featured a trip to Sears. The refrigerators were all too bright in color. Lots of avocado and sky blue.

[00:12:21] I was looking for something more modern and neutral. So I left and continued on my walk. I strolled around and looked in at Macy's. There were more varsity style looks and mannequins dressed in bright t-shirts. Then I finished my circuit of the windows at my favorite department store.

[00:12:51] Their displays were always so fun. It was more like looking at a spread in one of my favorite magazines, Allure or Vogue. That day, it was a great store window with dramatic lighting and metallic surfaces. The mannequin wore futuristic clothes in deep blues and silver.

[00:13:21] After I'd completed my window shopping, I watched for a while as the kids at Camp Snoopy raced around, lining up for all the different rides. I always found it amazing that there was a mini theme park in the mall. Snoopy was everywhere, painted on sides and built into the rides.

[00:13:48] I watched the smaller roller coasters with their gentle drops and the parents hanging out, chatting together. The mechanical hum of the rides was comforting. And I listened to the distant announcements over speakers and short bursts of themed music. There were strollers parked near benches.

[00:14:18] Parents carrying snacks or drinks. And kids moved between rides. And the lights. I could see a live show in the distance. And I felt that sense of sweeping nostalgia wash over me. The performances were pretty much always the same. And I liked that.

[00:14:44] I remembered when I'd first seen a show here at the mall with friends. It was too young for us. But we still laughed along. It was funny, almost goofy. Camp Snoopy felt a lot smaller than I remembered, but in a nice way. It was reassuring. It was reassuring.

[00:15:09] I headed up the escalator, which slowly carried me to the second floor of the mall. From there, I could look out the big windows at the parking lot. And it was covered in shallow puddles. There were people heading out with jackets over their heads and shopping bags pressed against their sides.

[00:15:37] Inside the mall, there was no sign of the rain. Except for the umbrellas gathered near the entrances and the dark marks people left across the tile floor. The air felt warm around me, like a soft hug. Tunes played softly from ceiling speakers.

[00:16:05] And the rain could have been miles away, instead of just outside the walls. As the escalator moved slowly, I rested my hand on the moving handrail and looked out across the mall. I could see a worker behind a coffee counter, stacking paper cups into neat towers.

[00:16:32] And two teenagers comparing CDs they'd bought in excitement. Nobody seemed rushed. People wandered in and out of stores carrying bags and drinks. The steady movement of the escalator made me feel calm. After a bit, I noticed my shoulders weren't as tight anymore.

[00:17:00] I shifted my grip on the handrail and leaned into it slightly. The rail was warm from everyone holding on. People were coming down the other side. Quick looks at their faces as they passed were gone again to head and didn't really focus on anything.

[00:17:29] I just let myself relax, and the escalator took me upwards. The mall's noise faded into the background as I rode up. Music, footsteps, and voices all blended together. When I stepped off at the top, I paused for a second before moving on.

[00:17:59] I kept walking, heading up another story on the escalator. I reached my destination, the third floor, and I walked over to the food court. I wandered around, taking in all the different options. There was soft serve, sandwich counters, and, of course, pizza and burgers.

[00:18:28] I enjoyed the way the smells changed as I walked around, and I looked out over the seating area, which was crowded with people, families splitting large pizzas, and teenagers sharing sodas.

[00:18:47] At that moment, and I headed back down to my favorite restaurant, Rainforest Cafe. When I approached, I saw the vines that snaked up the door. There was dim lighting, and the feeling that I was leaving the mall behind.

[00:19:14] Inside, a soothing loop of Rainforest sounds played. I heard distant thunder, bird calls, and insect-like bugs.

[00:19:28] Every time I visited Rainforest Cafe, I was always enchanted by the oversized leaves and big fish falls built into walls, and the animatronic animals placed around the dining areas.

[00:19:51] I could see a gorilla figure moving slightly, and a large crocodile sat near the water. The hostess led me to a table and handed me the menu. It was fun being here alone. I could really make out how my table was embedded in the forest, how the vines dropped around the chair.

[00:20:17] The lighting was green-tinged, and it gave the cozy feeling of being underground in another world. The waitress came up, dressed in the classic safari uniform. When she asked me what I wanted, I went for a rumble-in-the-jungle turkey pita. My usual. It arrived quickly.

[00:20:44] The pita was warm, and the fillings were delicious. But I didn't rush at all. I savored the meal, and I drank my coke between bites. The cold fizz sharp against the warm food. The ice shifted inside with a soft clink.

[00:21:06] Every time I set it down, the restaurant kept performing its jungle illusion. For a while, I just alternated between eating and sipping my lemonade, letting the warmth of the food and the cold drink balance each other out. The mall outside felt far away.

[00:21:38] It was pleasant and easy. I just let each thought glide, without stopping it or dwelling on anything. Without trying, my mind went to all the Friday nights I'd been to Rainforest Cafe with my mom and sisters,

[00:22:01] sharing plates of fries and burgers and enjoying the rainforest spectacle around us. The place never stopped feeling magical, and we'd always leave promising to come back again soon. I smiled at the memory, and promised myself I'd return with them soon.

[00:22:27] I finished up, and decided to head to look at the CDs in the music shop, browsed the selection. The shelves were organized by genre and artist. Some I recognized. Others I didn't.

[00:22:52] I pulled a few cases out to look at the covers and read the track lists on the back. I stayed there for a while, enjoying the different tracks playing in the shop. And then I decided to head to Blockbuster. It was one of my favorite places in the mall.

[00:23:15] All the newest releases were these, and just seeing the bright blue logo drew me in to take a look. Inside, I could smell plastic from the VHS cases, and popcorn from the concession stand.

[00:23:35] I took my time and wandered up and down the aisles, taking in all the different genres and the towering walls of tapes. The browsing was part of the experience, and I scanned and read the back of the cases. Then I left the tape section and moved on to the DVDs.

[00:24:02] My mom had bought a DVD player the week before, and I was looking forward to choosing a DVD from the selection. I remembered the last time I'd rented a video and had been charged a rewind fee. I marveled at the thinness of the DVDs. They were lighter, too.

[00:24:26] I went with the parent trap and the wedding singer, as I thought the whole family at home would like them. I took them up to the till and pulled out my membership card, along with cash to pay. I left with my DVDs, mine for a week. There was such joy in escaping into another world with a good film, and I hoped I'd chosen well.

[00:24:55] I'd watch them later with my mom and sisters. Then I headed for the toy shop. I remembered the first time I'd been there. I couldn't believe the colors. Everything so beautiful and plush. I walked down and saw the distinctive bright red signage, dotted with gold.

[00:25:25] Inside, I wandered around, taking a moment to pick up a soft toy every so often, enjoying the displays. There were huge, oversized animals. And I looked up at the high shelves, lined with their boxed toys. It was a shop that brought back magical memories.

[00:25:51] I'd been too old, really, when the mall had opened to get truly excited about toys. But the sheer scale of it was still such a joy. My sister and I had run around so many times, pretending we were little kids. It was impossible not to get a little caught up in the magic of a toy shop. And I hoped I'd always have that sense of wonder.

[00:26:20] I left the toy shop. I had no idea what time it was. But when I approached the front of the mall, I could see it had gotten darker. And it was still raining. I stood just inside the entrance, watching the rain through the glass doors. It fell in steady sheets, and I could just about hear it. A gentle, relaxing sound against the ground.

[00:26:50] Pitter-patter. I watched a few shoppers hesitate at the doors, glancing out at the rain, before deciding whether to step into it. But for a while, I stayed in that in-between space. Not fully inside the mall's flow, and not outside in the rain.

[00:27:16] It was cozy inside, and I noticed my breathing slow a little as I watched. Nothing demanded immediate attention. People passed behind me, moving deeper into the building. Nothing. But I remained still. I would stay a little longer.

[00:27:41] Eventually, I stepped back from the doors and headed to my final destination. It was routine to end my visits at the main fountain in front of Nordstrom. It was a place I always used to visit with friends after school. We all knew that if you threw a penny in, you might just get your wish granted.

[00:28:09] And so we'd always hang out there for hours, sharing a single soda and tossing pennies in, our eyes closed tight to make our wishes. We never told each other what we wished for. After all, if you did that, it might not come true.

[00:28:34] The fountain was a gently curved pool set into the floor of the atrium. There were low, bubbling jets and gentle sprays. Usually, there were kids hovering around. But now that it was evening, the place was quiet.

[00:28:59] The DVDs down on the floor, then sat on the edge by the water. Store music drifted into the open air. The mall lights reflected on the water. I peered in at the piles of pennies, nickels, quarters, and even frogs. The silver and gold and copper.

[00:29:28] All the colors seemed to mix together if I squinted and closed my eyes just slightly. I thought of all the people who'd visited and sat here just where I was. So many people had rooted around for coins and made so many wishes.

[00:29:54] My legs had that satisfying sense of tiredness. A lovely heaviness from walking around all afternoon. My pockets were heavy with loose change that I'd grabbed from the house before I'd left. After sitting there for a while, I reached into my coat pocket and pulled out a handful of pennies.

[00:30:24] I held one between my fingers and looked at it for a moment before tossing it lightly into the water. The sound it made was small and satisfying. A soft plop against the surface. Then silence again, except for the calming rush of the fountain.

[00:30:53] Bulls spread outward and disappeared into the constant movement of the water up another penny. The action became easier once I stopped thinking about it. To the hand. Open the fingers. Watch the coin disappear.

[00:31:22] I chose another. I noticed the texture of the penny against my skin. The slight weight and the coolness it carried from being in my pocket. I tossed another penny into the water. After a while, I found my breathing had slowed down.

[00:31:53] I listened to the sounds of the mall and the gentle, soothing sounds from the fountain. Again, I reached into my pocket and took out another penny. I looked at the reflections moving across the water from the ceiling lights above.

[00:32:17] I tossed the penny into the water to join the hundreds, maybe thousands of coins that lay there glittering under the surface. The mall visitors continued moving around me. But beside the fountain, I found there was no sense of time passing.

[00:32:44] I did not need to hurry toward anything. I only sat there, tossing pennies, one at a time. Eventually, I reached the last, turned it once between my fingers before tossing it gently into the fountain.

[00:33:09] It dropped through the surface and settled somewhere among the others. After that, I stayed for a few more minutes, my hands resting on my knees. The fountain continued flowing beside me, exactly as it had before I arrived.

[00:33:41] There was nothing to do, nowhere pressing to be. Every time one came to me, I just observed it and let it pass. The water moved in soft repetition. I felt the bench beneath me, supporting me.

[00:34:09] My thoughts came and went circling. Each one eventually passed through without needing attention. Memories from the past at the mall floated through my mind. The moments of visits with friends.

[00:34:44] The thoughts of the day and sights I'd seen during the afternoon and evening. I truly felt like a city within a city, with so much to see and take in. I just let each thought move through my mind.

[00:35:16] I didn't try to think of what was a distant memory and what was a recent occurrence. There was no need to do any work at all. I watched the fountain, letting my thoughts drift.

[00:35:44] I just observed each thought and allowed it to move through my mind. The carousel of images. The pictures became softer and more muted. Like they were moving back in time.

[00:36:09] And eventually, they seemed to float upwards and away. Into the air. And up into the skylights of the mall. Where they settled. The dangers even see you in the air. Use more beds, the photos. And the infrastructure was재. The to the other people you heard from the mall. When the Verse 4, the between. The temperature has all the magic.