Occasionally, I make a late night run to Wal-Mart. The kids are nestled safely in their beds, Patrick is reading or studying, and I just go. I love 24 hour shopping marts. They're so... nocturnal, and a little forbidden... It's like playing hide and seek in the dark. A novelty. Sometimes, I even pretend I'm hiding from the sales associates. They don't like that, though. They say it's "suspicious behavior". Fooey.
But, the empty aisles, they're great. No squalling kids (mine included), no crowded hold ups, just me and the stock clerks. I like the quiet, the way the workers are all kind of mellowed out (okay, that's a nice word for dead-tired.) Wal-Mart is not the top of the list for relaxing retreats, but it's a different world at night.
I like the people who shop, too. Some of them are in scrubs (leaving the hospital) some are students (got the munchies), some are a little scary looking (and possibly muttering to themselves), and then there's the dad with the kids. I laugh when I see them, because I know if Mom knew her kids were out at 11:30 on a school night picking up emergency toilet paper, she'd flip.
Anyway, I guess now that I've rambled a bit, I can go to bed now. I'm starting to look a little like the cashier who checked me out tonight.
G'nite everybody...
ZZZZ.... zzzzz....
Posted by Shannon at January 30, 2004 01:02 AM | TrackBackIt runs in the family... I love late night shopping, too... from watching the people... to an unhindered opportunity to handle every item of interest on every row of the entire store... I 'm a timeless person... having refused to wear any of the watches I've been given as gifts over the years... so when I get back outside to my truck I'm sometimes amazed at the two or three hours that have slipped by me while I was in the store... hmmm... could it be that alien abductions actually take place IN WAL-MART?
P.S. Your Uncle Clinton and Aunt Kim are famous for what they call their "mid-night Wal-Mart runs." With their schedules, it's practically the only time they have to go... and they make a date of it... I'm sure the stockboys turn a discreet head when Clinton sneaks a kiss... but then again... maybe not...
Posted by: Aunt Vickie at January 30, 2004 09:48 AM2 or 3 in the morning is the only time I will even dare to venture into Walmart. I have to work up the nerve to even do that. I think Walmart pipes in good feeling smells and that darn smiley face guy always cutting prices. It makes me apprehensive to even walk in. Every time, without fail, I have a list. A specific goal in mind of the 3 or 4 things that I must have from this trip to Wally World. I walk in... all thought of what I need is gone. Even the paper that I wrote the list on-- vanished from my purse. I walk around the ENTIRE store, in a daze, trying to remember that last thing on the list. $200 later I have checked out, failing again to get toothpaste, losing the battle again with Walmart.
I am that way with grocery stores too...