By Benecia Beyer
This weekend I was able to start on my first "summer" project - building the last side of my privacy fence in my backyard. It's a project I was looking forward to since the end of last summer - but my hesitancy always lies in the fact of actually having to go to the store to buy all the materials, somehow get it loaded in your vehicle and then unload it at home - 2 or 3 times.
I thought I'd be smart this time and have it all delivered in one big load. Maybe most people do this, but I would rather spend the delivery money on actually "buying something tangible!" Much to my surprise, the delivery would cost $100 and it couldn't get delivered to the week after next - over 10 days from now. So it looks like I was stuck going shopping.
It's not one of my favorite things to do: shop at one of the huge retailers, like Lowe's or Home Depot. I detest big crowds and the mindset that goes with them. And the traffic - sometimes I think it's almost more dangerous to drive in the parking lot than it is on the open road. Despite my feelings, I -- like the rest of America -- typically go to the "big boxes" on the weekends. But I've often thought that I'd be smart to wait and go in the "off hours" -- at night or early in the mornings. And on a Friday night at about 7:30 -- that's what I did. I was tired and in no mood to get back out on the road but as I wanted to get started first thing Saturday morning -- I took off.
The first thing that struck me when I turned into the parking lot was just how big it looked with only a handful of cars parked there. For the first time, I got a space near the front door. Wow -- that was nice !
Walking in, I noticed that this place where I'd shopped so many times before, just didn't feel the same. There was something markedly different. The aisles felt nice and wide, the floors were clean and there were very few shoppers walking around. And unlike most days, it was quiet -- I even heard background music playing. Can you imagine that? No noise in Home Depot - did you even realize they did play backgrounf music? It was wonderful, so nice -- I just wanted to hang out for a while. I even started looking at things that I really didn't even need.
It's not so much the actual crowds that bothers me, it's the way everyone acts. I feel like I'm competing with others to get my stuff and get out as quickly as possible. I guess I'm just not a good weekend warrior: I'm not one to win the attention of the salesperson or to get the prime spot in the parking lot. And tonight was further confirmation that I'm better able to manage when I'm a little out of sync with the rest of the world.
Do you ever feel like that? I believe that some people move better in the shadows and the trails of life than in the mainstream. I don't believe that it's a character flaw to feel more comfortable on the periphey, but more so that you belong there because there is something to find in those corners in the shadows that you're not able to see when you're in the light.
The drive home was pleasant also. It had cooled off and I was able to drive with windows down and the breeze on my face (another favorite thing of mine -- probably why I like riding my motorcycle so much). I wasn't in a hurry to get home, unload and start on my project as it was turning into my favorite time of day -- twilight -- when the world stars to ease down and the sky is full of all of these incredible colors and laid back energy.
So now I will look forward to my shopping experience at the "big box" stores -- and all because I stepped out of my box and did something just a little bit different.
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