Unexpected Delight on Aisle 5

The gift of staying present—even at the grocery store.

Inexplicable joy met me recently at an ordinary grocery stop in the middle of my to-do’s. 

I had just retrieved a cart, making my way to the back of the store. 

After grabbing eggs and oat milk, I maneuvered around two elderly women in the dairy aisle as they chattered about their upcoming weekend plans. Their voices danced with delight as they conversed easily with each other. 

It wasn’t as if time stood still; it was as if it didn’t exist.

They hadn’t realized their carts were blocking the rows of sliced cheese. Although I’ve been dairy-free (and gluten-free) for over two years, my Wisconsinite husband considers pepper jack cheese a weekly staple in our home, so I didn’t want to leave without it. 

Balancing on one foot, I hovered over their carts to select the right variety.

One of the women stopped herself mid-sentence and said, “Oh, dear, we didn’t realize we were in the way!” I assured them they were right where they needed to be and went on with my shopping.

Photo Credit: Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash

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As I worked through the rest of my list, I continued to bump into them—sometimes literally.

We saw each other in the pasta and soup aisle, the snack aisle (my personal favorite), and the breakfast foods aisle. They extended an affectionate greeting each time, joking about putting their cart’s brake lights on and assuring me that despite what it looked like, they weren’t intentionally trying to follow me.

Near the bread aisle, we met again. The more talkative of the two said, “There you are! We’ve seen you so many times, it’s like you’re a part of our family.”

Warmth flooded my body.

“That’s it. I’m adopted now. I guess I’m coming home with both of you,” I teased.

They got a kick out of this, laughing heartily down the aisle before apologizing that they needed to cut our conversation short. One of the women had forgotten an item on her list and had to track it down. 

Before leaving, she called over her shoulder, “We shop on Wednesday mornings if you want to join us again, sweetheart.” I beamed and told them I might have to make it my new grocery day.

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Upon entering the self-checkout area, I noticed every other shopper had their heads down, their hands hurriedly bagging each item.

I made a conscious effort to bag my groceries slowly, hoping to meet someone in the eye and perhaps share a smile, but with no luck. They chose convenience over conversation much like I often do.

As my receipt printed, I was delighted to see the women rounding the corner. 

“Look, it’s our sweetheart,” she announced, pointing toward me for her friend to see. Both of them waved.

I waved back and said, “It was nice to meet you, ladies. Have a wonderful rest of your day!”

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After packing the groceries in my car and taking a left onto the highway, I was struck by how this simple set of interactions could change the trajectory of my day. 

I felt lighter. I felt more joyful. I noticed my tone was kinder when speaking to a friend and softer when redirecting my dog on our walk—all because these full-of-life women gave me the gift of their presence. And, in turn, I was able to offer my own.

What if I would’ve put my earbuds in, listening to a podcast to pass the time?

What if I gave my attention to a screen instead of meeting the gaze of my neighbor?

I would have missed it—that rare, serendipitous moment when a stranger becomes a newfound friend.

The funny thing is I normally shop on Mondays at a different grocery store two blocks away. 

But this chance encounter has inspired me to try Wednesday mornings. Maybe I’ll see them again in their puffy coats and wool mittens, waving me over to welcome me once again into their joyfully mundane.

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A moment to reflect 

What is one way you can stay more present and embrace the moment while you’re out in public? How can you make something as simple as running errands feel significant?