Gourmet Hot Water

Today my Mom and I went to one of my favorite grocery stores to get some fresh food which can be more expensive but is tastier and worth it in the end. We went to H.E.B.'s Central Market here in Katy. It's a rather new store in that it's been open for less than two years. Our small town is booming and new retailers are springing up all over!

That being said, since I was a child, I've never understood how one store can sell the same item as another store and sell it for a higher price. It's not until now that I understand that it costs money to have a sushi-chef, a tortilla-maker and a pastry chef practically on-call, every day at your store. It also costs money to sell imported wine and beer as well as have an a la carte olive bar, cereal bar, whole grain bar, and candy bar. Don't even get me started on their amazing deli, stinky cheese and all. My favorite thing about this store has to be their gourmet foods deli. You can get the same entire meal at H.E.B.'s Central Market that you would get at a high-end restaurant only for a less expensive price. It's awesome!

However, as I paid the cashier for my "fresh" New England Clam Chowder, I realized why I don't shop here more often. It also costs money to hire snooty cashiers that turn their nose up at you if your paying cash because (in French, English and Valley Girl accent) "paying cash is so mid-'90's!" Actually I used four quarters to pay the .86 cents tacked on to the $18.oo price tag of my items. I thought she'd have a heart attack when she took one look at them as though I'd just put dog poo in her hands. Being human, my instinct is to react with an attitude however being me, I immediately attempted to kill her with kindness.

"I like your glasses!", I lied. They looked like something out of an '80's movie. What I really wanted to say was, "Hey lady, Estelle Getty called; she wants her glasses back!" I smiled stifling my internal laughter knowing that I was putting one over on her.

We walked out of the store and to my car and I was still a little miffed at our less-than-nice cashier. As we pulled out of the parking lot, I noticed a man in a very rusted-out Nissan very much like the one we had when I was in middle school. He was having trouble starting it. Here I was focusing on someone who was probably having a bad day and almost missing someone who was in need. Suddenly, my gourmet soup was just flavored hot water.