I am fully aware that law and order must exist if we are to maintain a civilized society. When I did drive, I slowed down when I saw a police officer. I’ve never gotten physical with anyone unless slugging an eight-year-old boy giving my second grade self her first kiss counts. If it does, I plead guilty as charged. I don’t remember his name but all these many years later I can tell you the name of the boy who came to my rescue: Bobby. There’s a life lesson there, girls.
Clyde and I grocery shop at Walmart. We also go to our local supermarket for meats and a few other select items. We take our own bags and always do the self-checkout. Although this means a lot of items to scan and pack it allows us to distribute weight and size in a way that works best for us. You are probably wondering why I’m explaining all this. Other than the fact that I have a blog, of course. I guess it’s to set the scene for what took place this weekend, Your Honor.
We’ve got the whole process down to a science after doing it every week for several years with Clyde bagging and me unloading the cart and scanning the products. The self-checkout was surprisingly empty this weekend and we rolled right up to a register. Not long after we began checking out I noticed that the sole Walmart employee in this section of the store was standing close to us and watching our every move. I said something to my husband and he had noticed it too. Granted we were about his only customers but we had never experienced this kind of monitoring before.
Finished, Clyde began the payment transaction and Suspicious Eyes approached me and said, “Did you get the cases of water?” which were on the cart’s bottom shelf. I replied not entirely kindly that we had. Just then a customer nearby said, “Excuse me”, summoning the Water Police to them. Zipping the cold bag we always bring I saw the steaks and chicken we had unusually purchased there and commented to my husband that we weren’t questioned about the more expensive items in our cart, just the $3 packs of water.
I know how this sounds and you’re most likely thinking I am desperate for something to write about and am making a Costco out of a general store. Let me assure you that a weekend with Clyde provides all the fodder Bloggy needs on a Monday. The guy was just doing his job and it wasn’t anything personal. but as often is the case, things can feel personal because they’re happening to a person. A person trying to save a buck here and there, by driving 7 miles out of our way to Walmart every weekend when a fully stocked, clean grocery store is right around the corner but with higher prices in all things. Cost conscious? Yes. Thief? No. I save money the old-fashioned way: cutting coupons and shopping where prices are low. Besides, what kind of Bloggy would I be if I can’t drive the getaway car?
