Opening Day At Wally World

Let's think about this.  One would, normally I would like to think, be in a good mood when visiting a new Wal-Mart on opening day.  Let's face it, there are many other Wal-Mart's in Central Arkansas.  If you don't WANT to go to the new one, go to your OLD one.  I went to just scope it out.  But before I could even get in, here's what happened:


I was driving around the full parking lot looking for a parking spot.  Amazingly, though the lot was full, there were not a bunch of cars backed up down the aisles.  In fact, there were no cars backed up at all.  Anywhere.  It's worth noting here that the parking lot directly in front of the store is not as big at the parking lots of the Benton, Bryant, Chenal or Bowman locations.  I am at the back of the parking lot (which each go in both directions) casually driving and evaluating whether or not there is an available spot on the row I am approaching. I FIND A SPOT--And Heaven's to Bestsy it's about 4 spots from the front!!!!!  I turn to go down the aisle and there beside my spot is a big SUV of some sort with a woman standing on the passenger's side along with her cart.  


And her cart is in my parking spot.  Yes, the entire cart.  It's right on the line and going into my spot from there and I probably could have whipped my little G6 in there, but with the damn cart and BOTH of her passenger side doors open (which extended out further than the damn cart), it's was an obvious no go.  So, I assess.  Do I move on?  Do I wait?  What I do is check my rear view mirror to make sure I'm not blocking someone or hindering anyone else's efforts to park.  It's clear.  I wait.  And I wait.  Mrs. SUV is rummaging around the back seat of her car.  She finally comes out and looks at her cart, back into the car, at the cart, back into the car.


You know how when you are out somewhere and you don't have your makeup on or you see someone you don't really care to talk to (for whatever reason)?  You know how you avoid eye contact at all costs?  (Dang that is mighty fine selection of motor oil!)  Well, that is exactly what Mrs. SUV was doing.  She was obviously not going to look at the little white car less than 10 feet away.  


Still, she is unloading jack.  So, I do what a nice person would do and roll my window down and ask, "Ma'am, do you mind moving your cart for a second so I can pull in there?"  (A not-so-nice-person would have pulled up right on her cart and nudged it when she didn't get the hint to move it.  But that's not how I roll.)


But I digress.  She looks around at the empty parking spot she is standing in (she's standing in an EMPTY parking spot!) and with a look of disbelief (at me, not the empty parking spot) replies, "I'm unloading MY stuff."  Which, of course, she wasn't.  


She blankly stares into her car for a second, two seconds, three seconds and in the nick of time (before I become not-so-nice) grabs a bag to unload.  She also calls her son (who should have been in school one would think--well, that's what I think anyway) out of the car to help.   I shook my head and said, "Ma'am that's just hateful. Hateful." and roll up my window.  She didn't take too long putting up her shit, and as soon as her kid moved the cart wheeled that cart out of the way (while she was slamming the car doors.), I pulled in. Sheesh.  


Welcome to the Shackleford Wal-Mart. 


Now, how was the Wal-Mart you ask?  BIG.  It is big.  Of course everything is fully stocked and items aren't out of place.  The shopping carts worked. The floor was clean.  It's brightly lit.  The inventory was all symmetrical hanging there on the displays.   They had plenty of checkers so they also had no long lines.  No lines actually.  


I wonder how long that will last.