It is funny sometimes what I take for granted. Yesterday as we walked past one of the grocery stores in town my daughter asked, "Why is that cart outside?"
It seemed like a strange question from a person who has often watched me manoeuvre around multiple carts in bigger grocery store and mall parking lots. She has seen them in ditches and on the sides of city streets and yet it caught her attention to see the cart there. It seemed out of place in a setting where customer service means something completely different and we are accustomed to having someone carry the groceries to the car.
We are fortunate to have two grocery stores in our community at a time when many small towns are without a place to shop. We don't get airline points or have the easy access to a gas bar and its cash coupons, but we do have a place we can send the kids to so they can pick up the basics and a place to go with lots of choices for nutritious and tasty meals.
When my children were very young there were places I wouldn't shop in the bigger cities because the carts were kept outside and I was afraid my babies would lick the frozen metal. I often forgot the coin needed to unlock the carts and it was impossible to carry a basket and a baby at the same time so it made the decision about where to shop more about service than the sales in the flyer.
It was difficult to juggle small children and the packing of groceries without losing my debit card. I was frustrated by what seemed to be a rule among staff members telling them not to put anything in a bag even if there was nothing else for them to do at the time. I avoided some stores I really liked because they weren't convenient for me.
Today the large chain stores are filled with brightly coloured and tasty temptations, a massive variety of choices as well as giftware, clothing, books and almost anything else a person could want. Sometimes I do like the chance to explore and experiment with new and exotic foods and my children are now old enough to haul around baskets and help pack groceries. But there is something special and relaxing about being able to walk the labyrinth of a much smaller store set up in the traditional manner with the healthiest choices in the four food groups around the perimeter with enough choices to satisfy without being overwhelming.
Shopping can be a serene experience and I like the service, small line-ups and the lack of traffic involved in shopping locally andthe friendly smiles don't hurt.
