between warm and chilly, sunny and gray. The roads belong to the few. It is an hour earlier than what it was twenty-four hours ago. NPR is all about the electoral processes, Obama, McCain, and the world is watching, some more closely than others.
Outside, cars are arriving, flocking into Whole Foods Market's parking lot, the slick Mazerati and the modestly green Subury. Doors open to be slammed shot, as passengers in all sorts of clothing styles, begin their walk toward the store. There are cyclists too, fewer than a week ago, for only the diehard cling to their bikes.
They come in throngs, with all sorts of reasons, carrying their lists, or simply their appetites. There are the regulars, who tend to make small daily purchases; the once or twice a week shoppers, who fill up their carts, have little ones hovering around their moving selves; and let us not forget, the sampling junkies, free stuff gobblers, a group I sadly belong to...
Surrounded by food, and pleasing color arrangements, they all blend in. Most make small talk with the highly eclectic and mostly friendly staff members, weekend laborers, who probably would love nothing more than being elsewhere, but then again, we're all different.
They hang around, make choices, soundly, or simply falling victims to a combination of clever merchandising and temptation -the way I do, stand in line at one of the few opened registers, patiently, or looking rather uncomfortable, too busy to be slowed down -I tend to feel that way. Some socialize, while others, keep to themselves, doing their best to avoid those who like myself cannot help being curious, inquisitive or simply friendly.
Then, we all head out, maybe we linger at the cafeteria, to eat something picked inside, or just connect to the internet taking advantage of the complementary free Wi-Fi, as I am doing right now.
Whichever the case, we leave the premises, the parking lot and go on with our respective lives. Life is a journey with many intersections and detours, and no matter how fast our world is spinning, whirling and swirling into the unknown, we somehow still can manage to meet in the most convivial of ways... and perhaps, this is something to be grateful for.
Be well, and if you feel like sharing a smile with the person standing next to you in line, go for it, I surely wouldn't mind.
A talkative shopper
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