Shopping in Sunrise

Like many things in South Florida, Sawgrass Mills Mall is an artificial destination. Built in 1995 as the Sunrise Galleria, the mall is a sprawling shopping destination for local and international visitors alike. When I was a kid the area was nothing but swamp and farmland. Today, it is difficult to discern that there was once farmland where a gigantic mall and parking lot now stands. The highway that leads to the destination, which also contains the BB&T Center, is modern and congested. 

As a shopping experience, Sawgrass is almost daunting.  My visit to the mall on a Saturday evening (in mid-November) was not a shopping experience. I was there to kill a few hours while waiting for companions to attend a show at BB&T. I noticed that patrons were engaged in an orgy of shopping. It was surprising the number of shoppers, many international, who had purchased rolling luggage and were in the process of filling their bags up with clothes, toys and the latest electronic gadgets. The mall has even tried to transform nature. It moved people almost imperceptibly from outside to inside. If it were not for the change in temperature and humidity, most patrons might not even know that where he/she was. As I watched several people busily explore their avarice laden desires, I was struck about how the mall might have resembled a traditional market on a Saturday, the major difference being that no traditional market would be open at 9PM. 

Longfellow Bridge

Every other November, I have the opportunity to take long, cold walks across the Longfellow Bridge. This year, construction is taking place to rehabilitate the bridge that crosses the Charles River and links Boston with the city of Cambridge. The bridge connects the two cities by foot, subway (The T) and automobile and is a great piece of architecture that provides travelers with a beautiful view of the skyline. The bridge was originally constructed in 1908 and is referred locally to the “Salt and Pepper Bridge” because the granite towers at the center remind people of tableware. I am unsure of the plans; however, I hope the cast iron fences that line the sidewalks, admittedly in bad shape, survive the restoration of the bridge.

Historic Matthews Arena

Matthews Arena, Boston

What is it that attracts us to old sports facilities? In an era when virtually every major sports team (and many minor ones) clamor for modern facilities, many knowledgeable fans seek out and celebrate classic venues. Perhaps it is those of us trying to recapture the pure thrill of competition and sports we experienced as children. 

When one thinks about historic sports venues in Boston, the natural first thought is Fenway. Yet, the old city has more hidden treasures. Opened in 1910, Matthews Arena is the nation's oldest multifunction sports facility and the oldest sheet of ice in hockey. Since 1930 it has been the home of the Northeastern University Huskies hockey team. Previously, however, it was the original home of the Boston Bruins (1924-1928) and the only "Original Six" arena still extant. Other tenants have included the Boston Celtics (basketball, 1946-1955) and the New England Whalers (1972-1973) of the World Hockey League.

Obstructed view seats

Although the arena has been renovated several times there are some distinctive features. The ceiling of the barn is made of planks of wood. There are numerous obstructed-view seats, especially in the top level of the arena. Rather than side-by-side, the benches are across the ice from one another. 

With an arena this old, it is hard to avoid a sense of nostalgia. The photographs in the lobby contains team pictures dating back to 1929. Banners in the rafters tell of a great tradition, but limited success in conference play and at the national level. But this is not the grandeur of the arena. Instead, it is in the bricks and mortar, the seats and the memories of over a decade of entertainment, joys and sorrows, friendship and comradery. 

On the occasion of your 106th birthday

I have been thinking about you a lot lately; it has been a little over 25 years since you died. Many of the things that you might have recognized are no more. The church building that you loved and nurtured is still standing; however, the congregation that you knew has been disbursed. The buildings of the railroad where you toiled in a lifetime of work are still standing, but the company has long since been bought and it is now part of a major international corporation. Sadly your son is no longer with us; however, your grandsons and your great-grandchildren thrive and are happy.

Even though you are no longer with us, you are in my mind. You are still a role model, especially when it comes to treating people with kindness and patience. Your memory reminds me that quietness and thoughtfulness are not vices; they are comforting to those around us. It is those who are patient and kind get the most out of life. Greatness is not found in grandiose awards, but in the simple recognition of your friends and neighbors. 

You once told me, a couple years before you died, how much you enjoyed your travels. I still remember long drives on Sunday afternoons in the country, just exploring. We were seeing what was “around that bend” or “over that hill.” Your one travel regret, you said, was that you never had the opportunity to visit the land of our ancestors, and of your mother: Germany. I have been there and I am lucky enough to visit often. You should know it is interesting and beautiful and you would have loved it. On the day before your first birthday after your death, momentous events in Berlin changed the world. It was remarkable and I remembered you that evening. All these years later, I continue to think of you often and especially every time I find myself in Germany. 

Happy birthday, Fred.