I went to Costco this morning. I know it would be bad timing, as the couple of days before Thanksgiving the place gets crowded VERY quickly, but I had no choice. So I went prepared for battle
.
I arrived about 15 minutes after opening, and the parking lot was PACKED. entrance backed out onto the street. BUT... as crowded as it was, there were many pleasant encounters that made, for me, happy moments:
PARKING LOT: Going down a row, looking for an empty space. I see one at the end, on the left side. As I approach it, another car comes around the from opposite direction, also looking for a space. A classic standoff, but... I wave to the car to go ahead. I'm retired, I am not in a hurry. Amazing, they open the door and the following conversation ensues:
Them: "you were here first, you take it!"
Me "You sure? It easier for you to get in."
Them: "Don't worry about it, the lot cannot stay full forever"
Third Party, walking to us with a cart " Hey, I am done and parked over there (points a little ahead of me to my right). One of you can have my space, I'll be quick".
Me: "OK, I'll take your space, its on the right. You (pointing to the other driver) take the open space, its easier for you and will keep the traffic flowing better".
"Problem" solved, we all agree, and wish each other Happy Thanksgiving.
INSIDE: Crowded, but a lot of room to negotiate. No fights, no scuffles, everybody seems in a holiday mood. The usual stranger encounters trying to get through aisles or areas were augmented many times with "Happy Thanksgiving".
There were lots of folks hovering around the $5.99 apple/pumpkin/pecan pie setup. Some folks clearly on a mission to buy lots of them, I observed about half dozen people with at least a dozen pies, and others with empty flatbed carts waiting to load them up. Costco employee pull up with a rack full, but instead of people taking them off the rack, they wait from the employee to unload them. Some even help without putting any in their cart. only after the cart is empty do people take them, and it is in a calm, polite manner. I hear a few people joke "they're ready for this, they never run out of them".
CHECKOUT: At the self checkout, one staff employee wishes another happy birthday. I and others also do the same. Them someone starts the singing happy birthday to her... and everyone at the checkout station joins in. All strangers, but hopefully giving some joy to the employee. She definitely enjoyed it.
BACK IN THE PARKING LOT: As I am unloading my car, a car pulls up waiting for me. I wave and indicate I will be pulling out. I load my car and as I get the empty cart, a nice young woman ( "young" being somewhere under the age of 65
) comes out of the car and offers to take my cart so that I do not have to take it back to the cart return stall. I slowly pull out, my window is down, and the song "Sun Goddess" by Earth, Wind & Fire is playing through my car speakers. The woman (who is now coming back to the car, runs over exclaiming "OMG I l LOVE that song!" So we have a brief conversation about the joys of being Earth Wind, and Fire fans, and she turns and yells to two younger people in her car (maybe her kids or grandkids) "See, this is real music!" They laugh, I laugh, and we wished each other Happy Thanksgiving.
In a busy, crowded situation, among strangers of varying backgrounds, for me these were a few happy moments to enjoy.
