So Like You Know, Whatever (2025)

I hear the façon de parler of the day everywhere in New York City. Conversations weave through the air like a modern-day symphony of filler words—so, like, you know, whatever—often making it challenging to decipher true intent beneath the verbal padding. I can’t help but wonder: do they speak this way in the boardroom, the classroom, at life’s pivotal moments? But honestly, I’m not critiquing—just smiling at the evolution of language, the playful rhythm of how we connect. It’s their time, their voice. And in that, I find a kind of poetry.

Still, I can’t help but drift back to my own coming-of-age, when words carried different weight. Back in the days when the Vietnam War raged, my peers had their own linguistic quirks, their own coded ways of rebelling and belonging. I hear echoes of their voices even now, stretched across time like faded Polaroids of the past. I reflect on how much fun it was to take a date to the Seaside Heights Boardwalk in my ’63 Rambler, and listening to CCR and Led Zeppelin on an 8-track on the way down to the shore.

At home, though, language was something sacred. My sisters and I grew up under the meticulous guidance of a mother whose love for words and literature was as fierce as it was tender. A book editor after WWII, she held us to a higher standard—not out of rigidity, but because she believed that how we spoke reflected who we were. Colloquialisms, profanity, grammatical missteps—each was gently, but firmly, corrected. “Her and I shoulda went?” That might earn a raised brow, a patient lesson, and if the offense was particularly egregious—perhaps an unceremonious gastronomic rendezvous with a bar of Ivory Soap.

Yet, time has softened everything, even rules once carved in stone. In my mother’s elder years, I found joy in occasionally and gently teasing her, deliberately slipping a grammatical faux pas into a conversation from a nearby room to hear her laugh. And always, without fail, she did—her warm chuckle filling the space between us before she pulled me into an embrace, an unspoken acknowledgment that some things matter less with age. Love, after all, is the most incredible language of all.

Here are two stories about a pair visiting a mall. One in 2025 and one in 1970. See which one speaks to you.

Like, The Most Epic Mall Trip Ever, You Know? Whatever

“So, like, him and I shoulda went to a different mall, you know? This one’s, like, way too crowded, whatever.”

“Ugh, I know, right? Her and I came here together last week, and it was, like, Delulu, just as bad, you know?”

“So, first of all, like, why is the mall so big? I swear we walked, like, a marathon just to find the food court, you know? Whatever.”

“Literally. And then, like, we got there, and it was, like, full of people who don’t understand how lines work, you know? Like, I’m sorry, but if you’re gonna take ten minutes to decide between a cheeseburger and a hamburger, like, maybe just stay home, you know? Whatever.”

“I was, like, actually losing it. And then, like, whatever, we finally order, and they’re, like, ‘Do you want fries with that?’ And I’m, like, ‘Uh, obviously?’ Like, what do I look like? A person who doesn’t want fries? Please, you know? Whatever.”

“So true, you know? And then we sit down, and, like, I barely take one bite, and that random guy with the clipboard is, like, ‘Do you got a minute for the environment?’ And I’m, like, ‘Dude, I just got my fries. Can I have a minute for that, you know? Whatever.’”

“Right? Like, I care about the environment, but also, like, I care about my nuggets, you know? Whatever.”

“Exactly. So, whatever, after that, we went to, like, that one store—what’s it called? Oh, yeah, Trendy Something or Whatever—and me and her walked in, and I’m, like, why is everything in there, like, made for people who is, like, three inches wide, you know? Whatever.”

“Oh my gosh, yes! I was, like, excuse me, do real humans actually wear this? Because, like, I put on that one sweater, and I was, like, ‘Why do I look like a sausage wrapped in a napkin, you know? Whatever.’”

“Literally, though! And then, like, the sales lady was, like, ‘That looks so good on you,’ and I’m, like, ‘Ma’am, I look like a confused burrito, but thank you for your service, you know? Whatever.’”

“I swear they just, like, tell you anything so you buy stuff, you know? Like, I could be wearing a garbage bag, and they’d be, like, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s so in right now, you know! Whatever.’”

“So true. And then, like, I seen those shoes? You know the ones? The ones that was, like, so cute but also, like, 200 dollars, you know? Whatever.”

“Oh yeah, I remember, because I had to, like, physically hold you back from making a terrible financial decision, you know? Whatever.”

“But, like, they was so pretty, you know? Whatever.”

“And, like, you got rent to pay, you know? Whatever.”

“Ugh, whatever. You’re right. But, like, barely, you know. Whatever.”

“Also, like, why did we spent an hour in that candle store, you know? Like, how many ways can something smell like vanilla before it just smells like… vanilla, you know? Whatever.”

“I don’t know, but, like, I was having a whole identity crisis over ‘Cozy Sugar Dream’ versus ‘Warm Winter Hug,’ you know? Whatever.”

“They smelled, like, exactly the same, you know. Whatever.”

“Okay, but, like, one of them made me feel, you know… special, you know?”

“Uh-huh. Whatever, you know. So then we, like, finally left, and that one guy at the pretzel stand was, like, ‘Do you wanna try a free sample?’ And I was, like, ‘Sir, if you think I’m stopping at one tiny pretzel bite, you don’t know me at all, you know. Whatever.’”

“Dude, same! Like, I was gonna pretend I wasn’t coming back, but I definitely went around twice, you know. Whatever.”

“I was gonna go a third time, but then my stomach started hurting, so I just lay down on that bench for, like, five minutes, you know?”

“You mean lied down?”

“Whatever.”

“We are, like, the worst, you know. Whatever.”

“I mean… or are we the best, you know? Whatever.”

“Ugh, whatever, you know. Let’s, like, go back next weekend, you know. Whatever.”

“Obviously, you know. Whatever.”

Far Out at the Mall, Man (1969)

“Hey man, what’s crackin’? I feel like we’ve been walkin’ forever.”

“Right on, brother, we’re making the scene! This mall is, like, totally out of sight. But also, like, what even is a mall, you dig?” “Who’s that guy with the tambourine? He’s far out radical man, and I dig the groovy haircut.”

“It’s, like, a bunch of stores in one place, man. Real funky. You don’t gotta go outside or nothin’. It’s the future, baby.”

“Whoa, that’s radical. Like, a town but with nothin’ but stuff to buy. Capitalism, man.”

“Yeah, but, like, look at all the people, man. You got your flower power chicks, your space cadets just driftin’ around, and that one guy over there who looks like he just woke up from a four-day bummer.”

“Far out. Let’s hit the record store. I need some new tunes, right now.”

“Groovy idea, man. But don’t bogart the record player when we get there. Last time, you stood there playin’ The Beatles for an hour while I was tryin’ to dig some Hendrix.” “Say what, is that Curtis Mayfield’s Diamond in the Back I hear on the loudspeakers?” Oh, gimme a break. Who runs this joint?” “Let’s hear some CCR man!”

“Cool beans, I hear ya, but Mayfield’s got a great groove man. I’ll keep it copacetic. But first, let’s grab a bite. I’m starvin’, man.”

“Right on. Let’s roll over to that burger joint. Smells funky, but in a good way.”

“Bummer, man! Look at the line. I ain’t waitin’ that long.”

“Chill out, brother. It’s all part of the scene. Hey man, let’s rap with some folks while we wait.”

“Hey man, I’d rather be truckin’ than standin’ here doin’ nothin’. Let’s hit the pretzel stand instead.”

“Peace, baby. Whatever keeps you groovin’.”

(They grab their pretzels and walk toward the clothing store.)

“Whoa, man. Look at these threads! What a trip! But can’t we get some good stuff at the vintage shop on Broadway in the Village, man? They charge by the pound.” Hey, check it out, this paisley vest is out of sight!” “Look at that dude, he’s makin’ the scene for the chicks!”

“Hey, you tryin’ to look like a psychedelic cowboy, man?”

“Nah, just diggin’ the vibes. Fashion is all about expression, brother.”

“Yeah, but I dunno about that one. You look like you fell into a lava lamp.”

“Hey, whatever, man. I’m feelin’ it. But, like, can we talk about those platform shoes? I mean, I get it, but I also don’t get it.” “And what’s with the bell bottoms draggin’ on the ground?”

“Funky, right? Like, if I wanted to be taller, I’d just think taller thoughts.”

“Radical philosophy, man.”

“Whoa! Check out that chick over there. She’s got the whole flower power thing goin’ on.”

“Right on. Total earth goddess vibes. I bet she listens to The Doors.”

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by The Doors (@thedoors)

“Yeah, or, like, super deep jazz nobody understands.”

“Far out, man. Let’s keep movin’. Don’t wanna be standin’ around like a couple of fools.”

(They exit the store and run into a friend.)

“Hey, what it is, man?”

“Just groovin’ through the mall, brother. You?”

“Same, same. Tryna keep it cool and find some new threads. Catch you later days, though.”

“Peace out, baby.”

“Keep on truckin’, man.” “Right on!”

whil