It’s one of those cold, overcast and dreary Minnesota winter days. A perfect day for stopping by the Home Depot on the way home from church to pick up supplies for the many home improvement projects that I need to finish.
With no list in hand and plenty of time to spare I went with the grocery store approach: go up and down every isle in the store. After just a few isles the cart was filled with several large boxes causing a bit of a driving hazard with rug rats running around unleashed.
Not wanting to be one of “those people” who unnecessarily bring their cart with them when looking at paint swatches, I politely parked my cart away from the crowded isle. I don’t know how to pick colors so I gathered a bunch of samples while the salespeople were helping others. I made my way back to the cart with only one intercept by a helpful salesperson. So far so good. As I turned the corner I ran into the same salesperson asking if he could help me with anything. I politely said, “ahh, no thanks” thinking that he didn’t remember just asking me that question two minutes ago!
I retreated to the plywood department only to find the same salesperson: “Sir, can I help you with something?” It’s like he was obsessed with helping me. He even followed me down the aisle.
Enough is enough. Time to get out of here.
While waiting in line to checkout I could swear that the people in the adjacent line were pointing at me and whispering. As the person ahead of me was paying I went around to the front of my cart and waited for the cashier. Looking back into the store I saw that intrepid paint department. And there was that annoying salesperson standing next to what appeared to be my cart.
I glanced sheepishly at the huge boxes in my cart. Wait a minute. This was not my cart at all! This cart is filled with flattened cardboard boxes.
I had taken the cardboard recycling cart from the person stocking shelves.