Donna Bogle enjoys the little acts of kindness and small stores. Courtesy of Donna Bogle
This is part of the Shore Stories: Life Along the Lakeshore series, which includes columns by local and former residents about their lives.
What is so wonderful about smaller stores? Having lived in Europe for a period of time I was delighted to find one of their neighborhood stores right here in Holland. We now have two of them.
The merchandise changes with the season and there are usually fresh flowers and that well-known Aldi "aisle of shame" to tempt us, but all the essentials are always in the same place. I can shop weekly in less than 20 minutes, thanks to the size and consistent stocking of my weekly needs. I have a choice of having an employee check me out or going to the self-check computers. Yes, a refundable quarter keeps the parking lot clear of carts and frequently I find people generously offering a cart to pass on to someone else. My trips to Aldi remind me we reside in a kind city.
During COVID lockdown we asked to have our groceries from Aldi delivered. My computer would list the items we wanted, send it to the store, and we would get a time when the bags would arrive at our home. This went on for a few weeks, and the delivery lady was always the same one. I'd open the garage door, she would place the bags on the floor, smile and wave at me, then drive away. It was comforting to see a pleasant face each week. But then, one week I went out to get the groceries and saw that she had left the egg carton right on the floor...with a pink rose on top! She may never know what that meant to an elderly, home-bound lady, but sharing the story will keep her kindness alive. After that she probably went back to her real job as I never saw her again.
Another day, as I was unloading a full cart of groceries onto the conveyor belt at the Aldi checkout lane, the elderly man in front of me finished paying and the checker told him to stand over by the wall. Then she used the intercom to call someone to the front. What was going on? The store was busy, and this seemed strange. I tried not to stare but saw the two talking. Then the Aldi employee reached into the buggy, pulled out several jars, and unscrewed the lids and replaced them slightly loosened. They shook hands and smiled. Oh, is that not a full service grocery store!
Donna Bogle lived abroad for 28 years, teaching along with her husband in English language schools. They moved to Holland in 2000. She is a member of Rotary and HASP and enjoys music and art as well as traveling. Her favorite book is Braiding Sweetgrass.
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