A COSTCO SHOPPER

Hey there sagacious reader.  I don't know about you but I do a lot of my 'bulk' shopping at Costco.  I think it's more cost effective than buying the same items at regular stores and I don't have to buy them as frequently. And that works for me! Shopping has never really been one of my favorite things to do. I know that's a bit unusual but there it is.

On a recent trip to Costco I had more stuff to get than usual.  My fault.  I let things slide; putting off til tomorrow what I didn't want to do today sort of thing.  So I had a full shopping cart that I was maneuvering as best I could. And it was actually a decent cart - didn't make left hand turns on its own as some tend to do.  No wobbly wheels either.  And quiet!  But it was heavy.

One of my favorite parts of Costco shopping is the "free" lunch that's available.  I try to plan my trips so that I can take advantage of all the yummy offerings that are provided. Sometimes I actually buy the products that are being demonstrated. Depends on how hungry I am as well as how tasty they are.

The 'munchies' run the gamut from breakfast through lunch and dinner and sometimes (if I'm lucky) even dessert!  If I find an item particularly tasty, I will admit that I have been known to circle around and approach the same station from a different angle.  I like to think that this confuses the worker in charge and that they won't recognize or remember me.  I do have this niggling fear of being singled out (loudly & repeatedly) and scolded for snagging more than my fair share of whichever goody had me sneaking around for more.  I am happy to report - So far, so good.

So, on this particular trip, as I am pushing my cart along the refrigerated aisle, I spy a small line forming in front of a station displaying a really delicious looking (and new to the store) chicken burrito.  I contemplate the line (not too many people ahead of me); check out my cart for perishable (all good there); decide I have time, nothing in my cart that can't wait; and start to move closer.  I am definitely interested in trying this new item.  It looks good, smells good, and I'm hungry!

Then, just as the lady was putting the tray of burrito samples down for us patiently-waiting shoppers to enjoy, a woman comes barreling over and scoops up a sample. Just like that.  No waiting in line for this particular shopper. Uh-uh. No direct eye contact with anyone who was waiting in line either.  Just moves up, bold as you please, snags a treat and thunders off. Ballsy move.  And rude.  Yep, definitely rude.  

None of us were going to challenge her though.  She was a large woman. And kind of scary looking in a hardened, 'I kill people for a living' sort of way. I'm not even sure she was a real shopper.  She had no shopping cart and no items in hand.  I don't know. Maybe she was just there for the free food. Or on some kind of secret mission - maybe as a "Mystery Sampler". Or maybe she was there to take someone out.  If so, I'm just glad it wasn't me!

Now that I'm home and out of (possible) harms way, I would like to declare to that woman who so rudely forced her way in and snatched what should have been my delicious burrito sample, BITE ME!