European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 17, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                America s mail walking phenomenon by Robert rein hold new York times t s 8 in the morning and already hot enough to Fry spit even the Leas on the dogs Are taking the Day olt Bui hero come Jack and Gloria Amerman on their daily morning walk around the second level of Iha Cool darkened town and country Center in Houston. Texas they stride briskly by the Vorsheim window zip past Tennis lady a Sharp Rig Huum Al Marshall Fields a u turn at Noiman Marcus and then into Iha Long stretch past sunglass hut custom shop Corrigan s jewellers b Dalian bookseller a ten at Joske a another a turn at . Penney and into the Home stretch. It s Hall a mite irom Florsheim to Florsheim. The Amer ans Are malt walkers they Are among thousands of houstonian who have discovered that the City s vast indoor shopping malls provide a splendid air conditioned place to exercise immune from the searing heal and humidity irom Nasty dogs motorists and bugs mall walking is a growing National phenomenon particularly in areas with harsh Summers or Winters As in the South and the upper Middle West. Ii began a few years ago informally but Many mall managements have embraced the trend As a Public relations Boon. The malls unlock their doors at 7 . Or 6 . Some malls offer heal in related once nerves o attract More patrons. The town and country Center for example set up a hos Pilat Altilia Ted walkers club that provides members with a Stop smoking clinic and exercise classes along with store discounts. The trend appears to have reached its Zenith in Texas cities like Dallas and Saspe Crary Houston a City that for All its Many charms resembles the steamy Erma Bombeck thousands of americans an lung tha country shopping mall to got their Dally Oxe Cito. Amazon Jungle during the summer i was born Here but i m still nol acclimated to the humidity said mrs. Amerman. This mall walking is a godsend to  she and her husband 68 years old who retired trom the Oil held machinery business walk about 1.75 Miles a Day. Then i come Back in the afternoon and buy what i saw in the morning said mrs Amerman. Each morning throughout the City at town and country Center Green spoil mall. Deerbrook mall the galleria at Sharps own Center the malls coma alive with  swinging walkers most of them retired people Long before the shops open Al 10 the merchants love it said Juli 6urnp, Mark Elm director for town and country this is Good Community Public relations 75 percent of our Market is very  about a year ago town and country set up a walkers club in collaboration with Spring Branch memorial Hospital As part of ils cardiac program. The club now has 1.300 members who have collectively registered 16.600 mall Miles since May 1965. Jogging or running is forbidden As an undue insurance liability risk members Are entitled to discounts Al Many shops As Well As free blood pressure screening fitness tests exercise classes breast examinations Stop smoking clinics and even a monthly class to give help filling out medicare forma. The medicare class is Given by a mall Walker Clarence Peterson a retired Plant traffic manager for International Harvester who walks As part Al his postoperative heart bypass therapy. The 145-store mall has set aside a vacant store on the third level As walk a mall Headquarters Lor classes and medical examinations members gel a tree to shirt after 100 Miles other Gitts at 500 and 1,000 Miles. The Hospital sends members a monthly newsletter. The american heart association sponsors similar clubs at other malls. The Mary Docker Slaney of town and country mall is probably Alicia Guerra a email Gray haired mall Walker. She sets a horrid Pace of 4 mph and has a Pedometer to prove it i go All around Iha edges no Cut Corners no cheating she said. Like Many of the walkers she is a refugee from the streets. She had bean Riding a bicycle and walking in her neighbourhood but gave Hal up after she was frightened by a Man who ird to assault her. Tha mall provides not Only safety but also Shields her sensitive skin from the merciless Texas Sun the mall also becomes something of a social Center after the exercise. Tha walkers gather Al the Mcdonald s an the third level or the vie de France and Paradise bakeries below tar refreshment and chatting. A walking has become so  Hal some people look Lor the Best malls when they travel throughout the country. For example Douglas Brown a retired schoolteacher from Cincinnati and his Wile Helen Are visiting their daughters in Houston this summer. They were recently striding around the perimeter of town and country with their granddaughter Lesha. The Browns Home mall is Tri county in Cincinnati which opens for walkers at 6 . During the Winter when ice Snow and cold make walking Tough. Wherever we go we find a  Brown said. It s much More comfortable than outdoors. There Are no Hills and we can set our own Pace and keep it n 37 years of marriage. I have never been a Back seat  i like to be right up front where i can grab the steering wheel turn the radio of and push my foot through the floor of the passenger Side of the car and pretend it s the Brake. My husband says i suffer from passenger phobia a fear Hal it i sit quietly with my Mouth shut my mind will Wither and die. I think he s putting me on. No Mailer. He s alive Loday because of me. O.k., i am the first to admit i have always been a somewhat nervous passenger. A lol of my apprehension can be Laid Al the feet of three children. The first time i climbed into a car with our daughter t said. Mother trusts you to be a responsible adult when it comes to operating his vehicle. I know you will rot do anything rash and will do exactly As i say. Just relax and remember that one careless mistake on your part and you could maim your Mother Lor Trie rest of her  ii was during this period that 1 developed my nonverbal trick. I found i could bring the car and Driver to a screeching halt by simply sucking in my breath grasping the dashboard with both hands and making a guttural inhuman sound. When the Driver asked mom what s the Maltar i would grab my Chest breathe heavily and whisper  during those years 1 also turned being a passenger from a passive pastime into a vital co Driver status. Some people climb into a car and sit there like a vice president Al a Cabinet meeting. Not me. I have tha mirrors to adjust he radio dials to twirl the windows to regulate traffic reports to deliver signs to read and instructions on what tights a changing who is going to make a California Stop and who is wednesday september 17, 1986 running a Bunny Tail red Light. While the Driver is Busy driving i can Tell him or her ii he or she is tailgating. Changing lanes too often or going too last to Stop. I have a gift thl i can l discard even when i drive with an experienced Driver like my husband. The other sunday i told him what Lane to get into cautioned him about his Speed and suggested he get rid of his chasing gum As it broke his concentration. I Don t know How i have managed to get to and from work for Over 30 years All by myself he said. Pure Luck i said. You Are alive because of  you Call this living get out my Driver s License do you see any violations on the Backol it i think i m perfectly capable of driving this car All by  checking his License i noticed in the lil lie Box under restrictions he had pencilled in  and after All i be done for him. A ism. Lei Angl in t