When I was a teenager my father discovered Costco. I remember him and my Mom being gone for hours while they shopped at Costco. I am sure my Dad drove my Mom crazy because he had to look at everything.
Once I went with them and my feet actually started to hurt because I was standing around so much while he looked, looked and looked some more.
My parents would come home exhausted yet excited. My Dad would take such pride in everything that he unloaded into the house while my Mom would sit on the sofa with a satisfied grin on her face.Costco muffins are so good and so very big. My Dad would buy loads of them every month and split each one in half. He would first wrap each half in cling wrap and then add another layer of tin foil. He would place the muffins in the freezer in hopes that they would last the entire month, which they never did because we would sneak them every chance we got! Oh chocolate frozen Costco muffins are delightful.
I remember getting married and my Dad coming over to load my refrigerator and cabinets with Costco goodies. I had so much V8 tomato juice, it wasn’t even funny. Recently I cleaned out the garage and guess what I found? A large tray filled with little cans of V8 juice dated 1998. I kept them, of course.
When I became a single Mom my Dad would not only make it a point to stuff my refrigerator with his Costco finds but he would also tell me how courageous he thought I was. Gosh, sometimes I would feel like such a loser until he would remind me of my courage.
Last night I went to Costco on the way home from work. Every time I go to Costco I think about my Dad. From parking my car to unloading all the items into the house.
I am on cloud nine when I drove home from Costco with my minivan packed because I think about how great it is that I can provide for my family as a single Mom. Putting the items away and seeing how full the refrigerator and cabinets are gives me such pride. Honestly, it recharges me.
So, this morning as I type this I am eating a blueberry muffin, thinking about my Dad and fighting back tears. Some are happy tears because I know he is at peace but many are sad tears because I will forever have this big hole in my heart.
