Curt is Chicago native – but don’t hold that against him. After stops in Madison and California, he and his wife moved to Waukesha in 2004 to open their own downtown business.
My stupidity got the best of me this weekend. I should know better.
Sunday seemed a great day to clean my fish tank. It was getting difficult to see the fish through the green haze on the glass, so I changed the water, cleaned the rocks and plants, and began to refill the tank.
My final step is to change the filter bag. That’s when I realized I was out of filter bags.
Two doors down from my house is The Aquatic Emporium Fish Store. It’s where I buy all my fish. Filter bags at the Fish Store are $8 and change for four.
At Wal Mart, I can get a dozen bags near the same price.
Now let’s stop and think- I own a local business. I should support other downtown business! I should walk right over to the Fish Store and get my filters.
I began to make excuses. “While I’m at Wal Mart, I could pick up some other things too. That’ll make my trip worth while.”
So off I went.
For starters, I am an impatient driver. A Sunday afternoon drive can be a
test of my patience- and this Sunday tested them well. Upon arriving at
Wal Mart, I was already in a foul mood.
Next, I get behind a woman who is following a departing shopper to their car, I guess in hopes of getting a good parking spot. I don’t blame her, it was 70 degrees and sunny at the time, hardly the kind of weather you want to walk in.
On the way into the store, I was greeted by a solicitor wanting money for abused kids. He was two seconds away from becoming one himself- I have a short fuse for solicitors.
Once in the store, I begin my search for a hand basket. There is no way on earth I am going to push a full size cart through Wal Mart on a Sunday.
To this day, I have not successfully located the area where they keep the hand baskets. It’s a modern mystery. That’s when the “guy” in me takes over- “I don’t need a hand basket. I can carry everything.”
The fish filters are 3 miles east and ten clicks south in Wal Mart. I would recommend a pack-lunch for your journey. Include a flare gun and a two-day supply of water in case you get lost.
On the way to the filters, I am accosted by numerous televisions hanging down from the ceiling, yelling at me about some stupid CD I should buy while I’m there.
There are people EVERYWHERE. The shortest checkout line is 10 deep. Kids are running amuck. Fluorescent lights are buzzing! There is someone on the intercom every five seconds. Shelves are being stocked around every corner!
That’s where I lost it.
I took a deep breath, calmed my nerves, and exited the store. I drove back to Downtown Waukesha and parked my truck. I walked over to the Fish Store and got my filters.
The filters are 20 feet from the front door. A gentle hum of bubbling fish tanks fills the room- it’s very relaxing. The only real light in that place comes from the display tanks; which are spotless and stocked with really cool fish. The guys that work there really know fish.
Fish filters are more expensive there, but in return for paying more, I received excellent customer service, it was convenient, and I bought another fish, an algae eater, to help tidy up the tank between cleanings.
Let’s face it, it’s not like I won’t ever shop at Wal Mart again. However, I will definitely give more thought to my decisions to shop there for items I can get Downtown, sold by people who know the products they sell, and who care about their customers.
Please learn from my short sidedness.
