The thought of spending my anniversary at Sam’s Club presented a true dilemma. What good and thoughtful wife would begrudge her husband such unabashed joy as my husband would experience when Sam’s finally opened? We’ve been cruising the parking lot for months checking on progress. How could I expect him not to be there when the doors finally opened?
To make matters worse, somehow, and unbelievably, he missed the preview open house for preferred customers. Rubbing salt in the wound, a colleague told him what delicious food samples were offered and what a great time was had by all. The dejection on his face tugged at my heart strings and melted my resistance.
When anniversary day dawned, circumstances demanded my presence at work, so I released my husband to perform his duties as well. We scheduled a rendezvous at home at 3 p.m. to begin our celebration. Although the expectation was unspoken, plans certainly included the obligatory trip to Sam’s.
I was pleasantly surprised at home by a bouquet of a dozen fresh-smelling, lovely roses — my favorite. I was in the middle of my I’m-so-grateful hug when an astonishing revelation struck me. He had been to Sam’s without me.
It’s surprising how quickly love can turn to peevishness. In all my protestations of reluctance to spend my anniversary at Sam’s, there was an underlying emotion of which I was not even aware. I found myself truly disappointed that I had missed it. (Please don’t tell my husband.)
On the trip home from our dinner date, we passed the entrance on Nicholasville Road. So many people thronged to Sam’s that the police were on hand directing traffic. Hordes of happy Sam’s shoppers trudged into the new store ... but not me. My darling just kept driving, pleased that he had spared me the inconvenience.
In the throes of true irony, I mourned the loss of an experience which I had thought I dreaded. Oh, fickle soul — can I ever truly be happy?
I know who must be happy. The Walmart/Sam’s Club planners must be giggling with glee to see their new location absolutely mobbed. Let this serve as a lesson to those who would underestimate the purchasing power of those of us in Jessamine County and the region south.
Bring on the Cheesecake Factory! Come, IKEA! Crate & Barrel, Bass Pro Shops and Neiman Marcus — shoppers await!
We have a crammed Cracker Barrel and a jammed Sam’s Club. Can Costco be far behind?
I just hope it won’t open on my birthday.
