Holiday shopping a test of endurance

Five men rest their elbows on the railing that overlooks the escalators outside Forever 21 at Fashion Show mall. Two hold shopping bags, one holds a woman's coat and the other two appear to be holding onto their patience. Holiday shopping is rarely fun, but for those who get dragged along for the ride, it can be plain miserable.

"We're in Las Vegas, and I'm at the mall," says 36-year-old Doug Allen. "I could go to the mall in Pensacola."

On this Saturday afternoon he would rather be watching the Alabama-Florida college football game that decides which of the two teams will remain undefeated and go on to the BCS championship game. Does he know who's winning? "Alabama, with three minutes and 57 seconds left in the fourth quarter," he says. (The Crimson Tide held on for the win.)

For the past two hours -- the time that has passed since he last saw his wife -- Allen's saving grace has come in the form of game updates via text messages from his buddy back home. But, he can't be bothered with that right now. His wife's waving him down from inside Forever 21. Time to hold the bags.

Some would say Allen deserves an award for his valor today, but others consider it another husbandly duty. "I cook and wash his underwear daily," says Ramona Montgomery of Las Vegas. That's how the 59-year-old explains why her husband, Terry Montgomery, also 59, accompanies her to the mall during the busiest shopping season of the year.

"I don't mind it," Terry says with a shrug. "I just wish there were more chairs."

Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Wolfson, 55, agrees. He has been standing in front of Macy's for 10 minutes while his wife makes a return. "There wasn't any room on the couch," he says, gesturing to a sectional couch. It's laden with middle-aged men holding shopping bags. One of whom repeatedly awakes just before his chin touches his chest.

Wolfson's wife, 53-year-old District Judge Jackie Glass, has returned from her return inside Macy's. She's buying Wolfson his 25th wedding anniversary gift today, otherwise she wouldn't have brought him along. "I won't do that to him," she says. "I was at the outlet mall on Black Friday and saw so many men walking around looking forlorn. I thought, 'I'm so glad (Wolfson's) golfing.' "

But not everyone has Wolfson's luck. Teody Maraon, 29, and his two young sons have been taking turns yawning outside Express ever since his wife meandered into the women's clothing store 20 minutes ago. The Las Vegas local would rather be at the gym or sleeping, but hopes his good deed results in a home cooked meal later tonight.

Maraon started out standing, then found himself crouching. Now, he takes his two boys by the hand and does what no man wants to do: Maraon boldly marches into Express in search of his wife.

Meanwhile, 21-year-old Joe Saldaña from San Diego waits for his girlfriend to wrap up her shopping in the same store. He doesn't mind tagging along because the people-watching passes the time. "But if it was tomorrow, I wouldn't be here," he says. NFL Sunday takes priority.

For Kimo Silva -- a tall, burly man who wears a diamond stud in each ear and a leather coat that stops mid-thigh -- standing outside doors comes naturally. As the owner of Gorilla Inc., a bodyguard service in Las Vegas, the 33-year-old is used to waiting around. That said, he doesn't have to like it. "I hate the mall. I hate shopping. I'm just doing this for friends," he says.

His two out-of-town female friends spent four hours at the mall the day before and are just getting started today. It makes Silva wish there were some kind of lounge where men like him could do their waiting the way they want. Those are the kind of things that run through his mind while he holds up the wall at Bakers.

From Silva's imagination to the ears of Saks Fifth Avenue's marketing department. The department store shows sporting events in the menswear living room from 2 to 5 p.m. every Saturday before Christmas. Servers scoop popcorn and pour beer for anyone looking to take a break, either from their own shopping or someone else's.

Neither Silva nor Allen could make it to the lounge at Saks today, though. Both had to stay in close vicinity to the people who brought them there. You never know when a bag or a door might need holding.

Men aren't the only ones subjected to the drag along. Maria Rodrigue, 42, doesn't enjoy shopping, but her husband loves it. After two hours at the mall, the couple holds two bags and Rodrigue has a sparkling pair of new white sneakers on her feet. They're on their way out because Rodrigue can't take a minute more.

"We're done," she says with a sigh of relief. "I would rather chew off my leg and beat myself to death with it than shop."

Contact fashion editor Xazmin Garza at xgarza@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0477.