Walmart! Yes . . I swore I wouldn’t, but I did. We needed so many groceries and a lot of it was things Aldi doesn’t have and I don’t buy much produce from Aldi so . . it was Walmart. I knew there was no chance I was going by myself so I said “Vince, why don’t you drop me off at Walmart, you go do the things you need to do at Tractor Supply and Home Depot, and come back and find me in the grocery section?”
What was I thinking? I forgot to say “. . before dark!” I went up and down every aisle in the grocery store, several aisles multiple times, must have looked at the guy in the meat department like I needed someone to talk to because I had a 10 minute conversation with him, finished the grocery shopping (almost $300 worth of groceries) . . no Vince. I stood up at the front waiting and waiting. I was afraid to check out because I didn’t know if he would look for me up there. Of course . . he didn’t have his phone with me. If I had seen someone I knew, I would have asked them to take me home! I’m standing up front, near the vegetables and I see him with a cart full all the way at the other end of the store. I wanted to scream . . but I didn’t. When he made his way over to me, I said (1) I am NEVER doing this again and (2) I will not leave the house with you EVER again unless you have your phone and it’s at least 50% charged . . end of conversation!
There were at least 20 people in military camo in there. I said “Are y’all from the National Guard?” Yes. I thanked them for their service and kept seeing them. They must be on their own for food this week because they were buying cereal and frozen dinners and one of them had a small grill in his cart.
When I met up with Vince, I said “There are a lot of people from the Guard in here buying groceries. It looks like they aren’t being fed this week. We should coo for them!” Vince said “That’s a lot of people!” I said “We could do it . . we could smoke brisket; make red beans, sausage and rice. There probably really are less than 50 people here. I looked at the parking lot on my way home. Vince said “We are not feeding the National Guard!”
Sorry folks, I tried! 🙂
Carolyn says
His answer sounds like something I might hear right after the eye roll.
Jen says
Oh my! You didnt say what Vince had in his cart. ? We used to do this when I lived in ND….but Darin would just cruise the parking lot looking for a place to park…it was that busy all the time and I hated the grocery stores in Minot.
Carolyn says
I love to shop early morning when everyone is still sleeping. There is very few in the stores before 8 a.m. and I love it!
Nelle Coursey says
Your heart was in the right place!
dezertsuz says
Now THAT would have been awesome! They would have appreciated a home cooked meal, especially at this season of the year. And Vince might have made some great friends around the smoker or grill!
treadlemusic says
I have tried the “Why don’t you go and shop at ******store and pick me up” with varied results. I do applaud the fact that Vince is still among the living! No easy answers for these life events so I guess we are doomed to repeat them (but maybe not for a long time?)…………………
Twyla says
One of our JPs used to have a Thanksgiving lunch in her office every year for the working that day sheriff’s deputies and highway patrol. It was very thoughtful of you to try to feed National Guard. And kidding aside you do show your good heart so many times. .
Donna in KS says
LOL Thanks!! I’m seeing Vince’s look! That’s just it, I thought everyone that follows you knows how kind-hearted you are.