by popular demand

ok here's the latest update.

i never heard from mr. costco. in fact, i wasn't really expecting to. i was happy with the experience because it made me smile. it was fun to flirt with a cute guy (he has a baby face) and i have to admit, i was flattered.

BUT, my close friend leta and her best friend kylie (visiting from utah) wanted me to make something happen so they encouraged me to go back to costco today. i wasn't for the idea, it sounded way too stalkerish but i had a couple of things to pick up and i was curious to see if he was working. my sister-in-law betsy recommended that instead of checking out in his line as leta had suggested, i should try the next line over so that i could smile and coyly wave instead of forcing myself on him.

i thought that was a great idea but when i got there i found him in the last line to the right facing nothing but that caged storage area. oh well, i thought. kind of a bummer, i know. so i went about my shopping and browsing excited to soon bite into that buck-fitty hotdog and soda.

at the entrance i saw this beautiful red enameled 6qt dutch oven pot priced at $20. i put it into my cart thinking it was a fabulous buy. when i checked out, and realized that my total was a lot more than i had expected, i asked the checker how much the pot was. she told me it rung up at $49.99. i hesitated but continued on with the purchase because i liked it so much. so i proceeded to the snack bar to get my hotdog and sauerkraut. as i sat and ate, i wondered if i'd run into mr. costco. i looked toward his line but couldn't see him. i gave up and continued to enjoy my meal/snack. When i reached the lady at the exit doors and asked for the latest coupon book, i was directed to the customer service desk, i hurried to grab it, and walked back to the exit.

still a bit troubled by my enamel pot purchase, i made a u-turn to the entrance and asked the lady at the door if i could see the product being showcased. she was very obliging but asked that i leave my cart across the way for her to tend. fair enough. anyway, i glanced at the display and saw that the price tags were switched with the product next to the pot. i wasn't imagining things! right then, leta called me and asked, 'are you still at costco?' i told her i was then i proceeded to tell her about the enamel pot situation. 'oh, you need to handle that immediately and return it. we'll meet up and get gas together.'

after telling the door greeter the item was marked incorrectly i followed leta's advice as i could not justify its purchase. i again wheeled that cumbersome cart back to the customer service desk a little embarrassed to return an item i had just purchased. while waiting in line, my peripheral vision caught someone walking to the exit, making a b-line toward me and standing right outside of the post and retractable ribbon thingy. he was looking at me. i was a little startled but grinned from ear to ear when i realized it was mr. costco.

he made his way around the separating post to the wall to chat. we were both smiling. i noticed he almost went in for a hug but i imagine my body language told him not to. awkwardly, it seemed he didn't know whether it was appropriate to or not. he didn't hug me. good call. i would've hugged back but for goodness sake, i don't know this guy from adam and we had just met in his checkout line a week prior.

'why haven't you called?' i said teasingly.

'i've been busy. i'm sorry. i'm trying to get a job somewhere else and have been emailing back and forth.' (i don't know if this is a red flag or not but we proceed)

'you still have my number?'

'yes. i still have your number.'

'it's kevin, right?'

'yes. rika right?

'yes'. (mind you, the smiles on our faces have not ceased.)

'i'll call you this week.'

'ok. see ya.'

'see ya. you're so cute.'

we both turn around and go on after that brief stoppage of time.