As strange as it may sound, I don't particularly care for shopping. Yes, I know, women are supposed to love that stuff, but I don't. When I can't shop online; I'm a "make a list, check it off as I pick it up, and then get out the door", kind of gal. So when HWDDD emailed me a shopping list this morning, I was none too thrilled.
In addition to dreading the shopping, I was sad to leave my dad's house. He was up this morning and none too happy to see me go. We hugged for a long time and when I finally left, I was in tears. I looked back at the house as I pulled out of the driveway and both Shasta and dad were standing at the window looking sad. (I know, I know, how can you tell a dog is sad--I just can, and it's my darned story)
I really wish I could help dad and Mike out more.
Anyway, my plan was to go to Walmart first (which I hate) and then Pet Smart (which I love) on the way out of town. I like to do the worst chore first, and save the fun for last.
I parked my car at the far edge of the Walmart parking lot. I sit on my tush too much at work, so I try to get in as much walking as possible, even if it is only from the car to the store. I also find that I get fewer door dings out in the nose bleed section.
I took a cart from the incredibly kind greeter and went into the store. This was going to be easy, I thought to myself. The store was hardly crowded at all, so I set about my task. Milk, cat litter, cat box deoderizer, more cat litter and deoderizer, onions--red and white, green pepper, roma tomatoes, progresso soups, candles for the warmer (some really yummy smelling ones this time) and a few impulse items I won't mention here.
By this time, it was a somewhat busier in the store. There were lines in front of most of the registers, so I prepared to wait. I looked around and there was an older gentleman in line behind me. He was leaning heavily on his cart and was carrying an oxygen bottle. I smiled at him and asked if he would like to go in front of me as I was next in line. He smiled, said "yes", and then looked straight at me and said "You are beautiful".
My first reaction (my usual response when someone hints that I am the slightest bit attractive) was to ask him how long he'd been legally blind. I DID NOT say that because he was such a sweet guy and I think that in his myopic, catarac ridden eyes, I probably was.
So I blushed. A deep, red, I could crawl under the counter kind of blush that could probably be seen from the Hubble Space Telescope. That seemed to tickle him and he grinned even more, saying "she blushes like a school girl, isn't she adorable". By then I was glancing about desperately looking for somewhere to hide. Fortunately the check out person was quick and efficient and after just a few more minutes he was on his way, chuckling to himself.
I couldn't even look the salesperson in the eye. He was smiling broadly, inviting conversation, but I wrote my check and walked quickly to the parking lot to put my purchases away. After I unloaded my cart, I saw an older woman struggling to put her groceries in the trunk of her car. It looked like she was about spent, so I offered to take her cart to the rack. She told me "that is undoubtedly the nicest thing that will happen to me today." I smiled and told her that I thought the day would bring much better things for her than that and put the cart away.
I was pretty happy, despite the complete and utter embarrassment I had suffered in Walmart and headed for Pet Smart where I was greeted by not one, but two adorable border collies. Their owners were kind enough to let me dote on them for quite awhile, so my doggie fix was taken care of. I walked right over to the glucosamine chondroitin doggy treats I buy by the gross for the neighbor dog and the Science Diet cat food my cats love was on sale! The stars were certainly with me in Pet Smart.
As I drove out of town, it occurred to me that my shopping expedition wasn't nearly as unpleasant as I had expected it to be. I guess you never really know how a day will turn out.
