I Pledge Allegiance To Trader Joe’s

The Ogre brought home a toy airplane for Liam from his last conference. Liam was instantly attached to it and has been sleeping with it every night and taking it everywhere. Even to Trader Joe’s. Where he accidentally left it in the grocery cart. We realized we had left it there as soon as we got home and I immediately called the store. The blessed man who answered put me on hold and checked every cart in the parking lot, but didn’t see it. He said he would leave a note for everyone else to keep an eye out for it, which I appreciated, but I didn’t really have much hope that it would turn up.

This was a serious blow. Little Liam has been wandering around for two days asking where his airplane is. He even cried last night because he didn’t have it. The Ogre has been combing Amazon to try and find one that is similar and not outrageously expensive, but hasn’t had much luck.

This morning I got a phone call from the manager, who not only found the airplane but wrapped it up and put it in their store’s safe with my name on it, so we could come get it next time we are out there. Liam is beside himself with glee. So am I, for that matter.

Trader Joe’s, you are the best company ever. Your employees are the best ever. They treat people like people, they never act like they’ve never seen SO MANY children before, they always check the eggs before they put them in the bag, and I LOVE them for it.

I hereby declare (again) my unwavering loyalty to Trader Joe’s. Like Scarlet O’Hara, I declare as God as my witness, I’ll never go to Whole Foods again!

(I probably will, though, because their meat goes on sale and yours doesn’t. But I always bring my Trader Joe’s reusable bags into Whole Foods, because loyalty.)