Submitted by Diane Tilstra.
The aisles were crowded at Trader Joe’s but the sunshine streaming through the windows made me feel warm and happy. Sunshine does that to me. Suddenly my basket collided with another shopper in the sea of people scrambling for good deals.
I looked up to see a tall elderly man with salt and pepper hair, glasses and a nice smile. I noticed he was dressed in casual clothes. He apologized to me for hitting my cart but he didn’t try to move around me. My “flirt flag” went up immediately. He asked me if I come to Trader Joe’s often. “Pretty often.” I said. Not a really great “pickup line” I thought.
“Would you happen to know a Carol Smith?” “No, I don’t think I do”, said I. He then went on to tell me that he met this sweet lady when they “bumped” into each other one day and she gave him her digits so he could call her again. “When I got home I realized I lost her piece of paper with her phone number on it. I was so sad to lose it so I come to Trader Joe’s every day in the hopes of finding her again.”
He was so sincere and sweet. I wanted to give him a big hug and become his Private Investigator to find this illusive woman so they could be together. He thanked me and pushed on into the crowd of shoppers. It was a brief but sweet encounter. I never forget him and think of that moment whenever I go to Trader Joe’s in University Place.
I can imagine that Carol Smith goes there every day too.
Nice story Diane. I haven’t shopped there in sometime, but it’s on my list. Not for meeting someone, but because my cousin Lindy, now living in Los Angeles, sent me a Christmas card present for a $90 shopping card. In addition to the card she sent me an ornament which I think she also bought at Trader Joe’s. It’s a plastic piece of thick bacon about six of seven inches long. I thought of hanging it on the rear-view mirror on my Chrysler Pacifica, but then it struck that there might be a line of people waiting to steal my bacon.
Thanks, Don! I love the idea of a bacon strip hanging in your Chrysler!! That was a thoughtful gift!
Nice to hear of nice people after negotiating that crazy Green Firs parking lot.
Thank you, Jerry! Yes, there are some nice people in the world…still.