For the last few years, I've been getting up VERY early once every week or two to go
grocery shopping at the Superstore on Kenaston at Grant. I don't like rising at 4:40AM and walking out of
my building by 6 but I've done it. Traffic is light and my bus connections are
good. I could be at the store by 6:30 and back on a bus home by 7:10. If early
rush hour traffic wasn't too bad, I'd be walking in my door by 7:40. Other
advantages to that early shop were that the produce was fresh, the store wasn't
crowded and the morning staff there knew me and were more than willing to offer
assistance finding things if I needed it.
Thanks to our recent bitterly cold weather, I hadn't been
out much, so my perishables were getting a bit sparse. So, this past Tuesday
morning, I set out on my usual early trek to stock up.
As I crossed Grant, a westbound vehicle was turning into
the parking lot. By the time I reached the store entrance, the driver was also
approaching the door. We were both surprised to find the door locked and a sign
indicating that the store only opened at 7:00AM!
HUH?
When did that happen? I'd been there just before New Year's and nothing
was said.
As we stood there in -25C windchill, we talked for a
couple minutes about the unforeseen change. He and his wife had just returned
from a month long trip to Mexico so their cupboards were rather bare -
especially of fresh products. I said it wasn't worth turning around to go home
as it was a half hour (including transfer) each way. I began to mentally calculate
my options as we talked.
A couple minutes into our conversation, he said that he was
going back to his car to wait rather than standing out in the cold. As he
started to walk away, he turned and said that I was welcome to come and sit in
the car with him till the store opened at 7.
What to do?
I was dressed for short waits at bus stops (5-7 minutes)
but I wasn't dressed for, let alone thrilled that I may have to stand there for
30 minutes.
There isn't a lot of shelter by the store and with the
windchill as high as it was, I could have gotten hypothermia and/or a very
nasty cold before the store opened. There is a bus shelter not too far away,
which is supposedly heated but frankly, those aren't much warmer than standing
outside. I'd have stayed standing rather than sitting on a cold bench at a
shelter as a cold seat would have left me vulnerable to a bladder infection.
(It's happened in cold weather before and I wasn't about to risk that after
effect again!) If I'd have caught a bus, I would have only gone a few stops
before having to get off, cross the street at an unfamiliar intersection
(possibly one without stop lights making it riskier) then wait for another bus and
come back. Streets and sidewalks had many icy patches and a fresh dusting of
snow overtop making them very slippery. Not all intersections have been plowed
properly so a risk of falling (I've already fallen twice this winter and certainly
not wanting to fall again) I know my way between the bus stops and Superstore
but not familiar with many other businesses in the area - especially any that
would be open at 6:30AM. Not to mention that at this time of year, it is after
8AM before the sun rises and the orange tinged street lights aren't conducive
to safe visually impaired navigation.
Being legally blind, I've learned to trust my instincts
about people over the years. Believe me there are many people I wouldn't dream
of getting in a vehicle with! Heck, there are people I don't even want to sit
near me on a bus or be in an elevator with! Some people just give off a bad
vibe.
Winnipeg is a very friendly city and known for acts of
kindness. The store is located in an area with low crime rates.
My spidey senses weren't going off. I didn't feel threatened at all - more gratitude for a
strangers kindness. As I said, we had only talked for a couple of minutes
before the car was mentioned.
I had contemplated my options and took a calculated risk.
I asked if he was sure and when he said yes, I said thank you and walked behind
him to the car.
He turned on the seat warmers and we continued to talk.
He told me more about his trip and the experiences bussing and shopping. I told
him a bit of my trip to Mesa last January. We talked about the competitive
grocery market here in Winnipeg and how some store takeovers and closings were
effecting customers who relied on nearby stores. Of course we talked about the
weather! Somewhere along the line, we also thought to introduce ourselves -
first names only though. We talked of neighbourhoods and careers but nothing
overly personal. All in all, it was a comfortable, casual conversation.
About 6:50, he noted that the Gas Bar in the parking lot
was now open and that if it was okay, he wanted to drive over and fill up the
tank so he or his wife wouldn't have to do it later. That may have set off alarm
bells for some, but the fact that he told me what was on his mind rather than
just starting the car and driving over eased any apprehensions I may have had
otherwise.
The store finally opened its doors at 7:00. I thanked him
once again for his kindness as we walked towards the entrance.
I learned from staff that the new hours started the first
Monday of January. The opening was moved from 6 to 7 as there wasn't enough
business to justify staffing for that early hour. The change has been noted on
their web site and in flyers. I check the website weekly, but only the flyer
section - not my store hours. A number of customers have been caught off guard
by the change. Oh well!
Once my shopping was done, I managed to make semi decent
connections home - despite not having access to my bus timetables. I walked in
my door by 8:25 - about 45 minutes later than I used to.
Since then, I have re-calculated my bus timings - both to
and from Superstore. AND for future
early morning grocery shopping trips, I can now set my alarm to 5:20 and still
be there shortly after 7!
So, all's well that ends well for that early morning
adventure!
Yes, this story could have gone in a very different
direction. As I shared the story with various friends, some thought I was a tough cookie, but also
knew me well enough to know I have good instincts and would never intentionally put myself in harm's
way. There were also those who cried "stranger danger!" They are
right of course, but I reminded them that my spidey senses weren't going off. On
a Tuesday morning at 6:30AM with a nippy -25 windchill in a Winnipeg
neighbourhood with a low crime rate, it felt like a reasonably safe chance to
take.
Would I do it again? That will all depend on the
circumstances and what my instincts tell me.
dn
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