Comfortable Shopping....

During the time of COVID I don't do much in-person shopping. Frankly the only stores I generally go to are the grocery store and the pharmacy. I don't need anything else and if I do come up with a must-have I can order on line and the box shows up in our building's lobby. When I do shop I wear a face mask and move quickly.

But a few weeks ago I did go to the fabric store to get yardage to finish a quilt for our area quilt museum and while at the mall I skipped into TJ Maxx looking for some shorts. Since the changing rooms were closed off I paid for them and headed home. Unfortunately the shorts did not work out so needed to be returned.

Yesterday I drove to a second nearby TJ Maxx thinking they might have something and I'd make an exchange. This store is southwest of me in Brown Deer, WI. I parked in a semi-busy lot, put on my mask and stepped out of the car with my bag. I noticed several shoppers approaching the store ahead of me....all wearing masks. I entered the doors and was greeted by a masked employee asking if I needed a cart and then wiping one off before pushing it toward me. I could sense the smile behind the cloth.

The store was super clean, had signage encouraging social distancing. While it wasn't terribly crowded, there were a number of customers pushing carts and all seemed to just generally look for the least crowded path. And they were wearing masks.....at least 80+% of my fellow shoppers were wearing masks.

I checked out and again....all staff behind the registers were wearing masks and the floor was marked asking people to stand on the circle to take turns and practice social distancing. I complimented my cashier at just how well-run the store was and how much I appreciated the efforts. I felt so comfortable while in the building and was just so impressed by the friendly staff and the caring customers.

It was a very hot day.....and frankly my glasses fog up when I wear my mask. So I'm sure no one really wanted to add this extra "garment" to their summer wardrobe. But they did....and I thank them. Thank them for caring about others....and for accepting a little discomfort to try to help stop the spread of this life-altering-interrupting damn virus.

I don't usually take the time to fill out the store surveys advertised at the bottom of the receipts, but yesterday I did. Kudos to TJ Maxx.....I will be back.