The past few years I have frequented Aldi grocery
stores. They have good quality food and
even better prices. One of the reasons
they have such low prices is their cart-rental system. Their carts lock together and you “rent” one
for your shopping time by putting in a quarter.
When you return the cart to the corral, you get your quarter back. Simple.
And their parking lot is not littered with random carts.
Occasionally when I am returning a cart, I’ll see
another patron approach. I’ll offer my
cart and they offer a quarter. Or the
other way around. It's a nice gesture.
One Saturday morning as I returned my cart an older
gentleman approached me to do the cart swap.
I waited for a moment as he fished around in his pants pocket for a
quarter. The sound of change rattling in
his pocket brought back memories of my grandfathers, who always seemed to have
change in their pockets. I smiled as I
took the quarter and then walked back to my car with tears in my eyes. I suddenly missed my grandfathers.
My mom’s father Ed died when I was ten. I lost my other grandfather, Russell, when I was
20. I have lovely memories of them both. One, an artist/gas station owner and the
other, a barber/farmer/school bus driver.
 |
| Edmund Riedweg |
 |
| Russell Godby |
Funny how the sound of change made me very aware of
how life changes. Hardly anyone keeps
coins in their pockets anymore. Or a
comb in their front pocket. Or carries a
handkerchief. The way of life that my
grandfathers knew has passed. Thankfully
my memories of them are very much alive.
No comments:
Post a Comment