Friday, May 17, 2013

My Waltz with the Waffle Man


My life here in The Netherlands has become dramatically better with in the last week. Our grocery store C1000 has been sold to a competitor named Jumbo (the J is pronounced like a Y.. just like my last name). It’s a beautiful new market perfectly close to my house. I just bought saddle bags for my bike so I plan to bike to the market to get most of my food. I’ll just have to go more often which is what the Dutch like to do.

As I arrived at our new store ready to explore what new items they were stocking I was greeted by a friendly Jumbo greeter with a magic wand in her hand that she handed to me. It was yellow and shiny and oh so much fun! As I glided around my new store with my pointing, scanning and bagging my goodies all by myself… elation took over my body. I was giddy with delight of having so much power. I would no longer have to avoid eye contact with the other people in line who held a loaf of bread while I checked out my weeks’ worth of groceries, I would no longer have to avoid their glares as I slammed all of my food into bags at the speed of light, over packing and smooshing my bread and eggs in the process.

I would now have the freedom to shop leisurely, scan the price and place it immediately into my bag in the place that worked best for that item. As I turned a corner, my eyes caught a glimpse of a man and a cart. There was music coming from his music/boom box cart. And on the top he was making waffles.  This jolly ole fellow with his tall baker cap was in such a wonderful mood. He was tapping his foot to the music and I smiled as I watched him. What a joy to enjoy your job so much you wanted to dance and smile all day long.

Here’s a little music to help put you in the mood.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD_uz_kBS1E


Well, he saw me standing there smiling and watching and he reached out to grab my hand. He circled me around and around the Jumbo market all while I laughed and giggled with delight at my new found favorite grocery store.

I checked out within seconds. All I had to do was hand my yellow shiny toy back to the cashier and pay. It was all very painless.

Dancing with the Waffle Man while doing a little shopping ~ pure joy!!

4 comments:

  1. We may have to look for a place in that neighborhood just so I can shop there! That wand is brilliant!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Which Jumbo is this? Buikslotermeerplein? I never seen that wand thing there which is why I am asking. I am also an America living in Amsterdam (Noord) and am married to a Dutch man.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Ashlie.. this one is in Eindhoven at the Kasteliplein. I LOVE the wand :)

      Delete

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