Sunflower at sunrise

Wait at Walmart at 3am on the day after Thanksgiving so I can save $20 on a bike? Go to RC Willey on a Saturday afternoon, not to buy furniture, but to get the free hot dogs and drinks? Stand in line for hours to get tickets for the first showing of some movie? I don't do that. (Okay, once years ago I did wait in shifts with friends for two days to see the re-release of Star Wars...but I was single and crazy, so that doesn't count.)

So what was this urge I felt to awake before dawn, carpool with two sisters-in-law to Sunflower Farmer's Market, and eagerly join the long line of customers who gathered for the grand opening...just for the chance to be one of the "first 200 who will receive a free bag of groceries (with in-store purchase)"? We pulled up around 6:40am, and immediately wondered whether we would make the cut. Who knew so many people actually read those small words on the mail flyer? Despite our mounting doubts, we joined the line and waited for an employee to approve or reject us. We assured each other that, even if we didn't receive the reward, we had made the trip (possibly one mile!) and might as well stay. But then, oh yes, that good employee handed us our cards...numbers 147, 148, and 149. We were in.

It's really just another health food store selling organic products that I would like to buy, but can't afford to buy on a regular basis. But then, they entice me with their inexpensive produce; that alone pulls at my frugal-and-trying-to-be-healthy side. In addition, today they generously handed out all sorts of free samples--including chocolate--thus creating a friendly atmosphere (or addiction) designed to welcome me and the rest of the early-riser community. I loved it. And that wonderful, mysterious, birthday surprise-like bag of groceries? I loved that, too; it was simply fun. There was something, something, about that gimmick that made the waking and the waiting worthwhile.

After all, aside from the bread, baby carrots, and shampoo, I have definitely been needing bottled "firehot" red peppers.