This weekend I did something that I normally avoid like the plague. It is something that, here in Chicago, in my rather rough’n’ready neighborhood, might get you either loudly called out (leave ubiquitous name used in comments below if you know) or mumbled at over and over (leave same name in comments below). But of course, being a high culture maven, I keep my low culture thoughts to myself (but there in there!)
So, what is one of the ultimate cardinal sins of Big City Life?
Line Jumping.
This is where you are in line at a store, in cattle que with, hmm, over 75 people (maybe a hundred!?) and you Keep Shopping, leaving your goods in the line to hold your place.
Realistically, for those brave enough to do this, one can only go so far away from the line, without finding one’s cart, basket or pile kicked to the margins. But sometimes, just sometimes, the People just understand.
Sunday was one of those days.
I went driving around after I went to the main Post Office (I go to the Post Office once a week to not have to be overwhelmed by lines) to try and find a place to get a big sheet of foam core board. I was obsessed with this but the fever hit enroute and I’d left my phone at home and people, in this day and age, when you can’t Look It Up while on the way makes it an immediate modern tragedy. I, like millions of others, am a slave to my smart phone.
My fever is smarter than any phone, though, and its little built in GPS moved that car right over to the nearest Jo-Ann Fabrics.
Now this isn’t any reg JFab; it’s a super store! It has a huge framing department and my fever figured if they didn’t have some foam board who in God’s green acre would?
I was not to be disappointed – not only did I get what I came for, I ended up with a pile of buttons, three dress patterns (we used to make all our own clothes and am going to have some fun), and a couple of magazines.
But because this was just a run-in purchase, I hadn’t bothered with a cart and just carried the whole hot mess to the register when it hit me.
The Line. Snaking all the way to the back of the store (now remember, this is a Super Store!), it wiggled its wallet and it made me smile. Crafters! Everywhere! Coming out of the woodwork, because, drumroll please, it was Super Coupon day!~
And this made all the difference in the world to the Line.
Because I was a newb and didn’t have any coupons, the Lady in Back of Me told me where to go find them and the first Line Jump occurred! Even the man in front of me sort of approved by not having a vicious look on his face when I gave him a slight nod on the leaving.
Then, after the Line moved a little forward, I was about 10 feet away from a really cool display of some spring dresses on mannequins.
And it was here where I pushed the envelope – I dashed out for Jump #2 and grabbed a Dress Pattern (Butterwick BP244) to even out my pile.
I ran back to the Line, with a couple of liners even beaming at me in approval. THIS never happens in Chicago. On a Sunday. In a store.
And I was glad…
…now all I have to do is figure out which buttons I want to use on my new turquoise cardi…
If you haven’t already decided and want an outside opinion, the green ones or the multi-shade brown ones that are uncarded and lined up on the sweater already would both look very nice…
Hmmm – sounds like spring is in the air. I can’t imagine such generosity of spirit in January . . .
Hmmm, goods to save a spot in line at the store and lawn chairs to save a parking spot! Only in Chicago! Actually, here in West Michigan, we leave blankets on the seats at crowded events like football games and graduations and nobody moves them. They used to let you put blankets to save spots along the Tulip Time parade route, but now you can no longer do that. Do you find that JoAnn Fabrics is ALWAYS slow at the register? Even when you are the only one waiting?
Multi-brown ones for me too, unless you went with bright lime or turquoise for fun:) :) and yes, JFab is always slow here too. Doesn’t if make one feel great to give GRACE?
I have always found fellow crafters to be the friendliest bunch. Asking for help or an opinion and even some line jumping can be tolerated. I live right outside of Boston and they can be vicious, however, I have never witnessed or been involved in ANY hostile situation at a craft type store. It’s my favorite kind of store to shop in!
I live by a regular Joanns, but I work near a superstore. Crafty people are so nice, even at the big markets like Stitches. The long lines at Joanns are a result of the fact that they seem to hire the same crafty people that shop there!! Oh, what are you making from that fabric? That’s so pretty! Oh, are you knitting a sweater? Who is the afghan for?? Then once you hook me into the conversation, I just must tell you about the whole project!!
Most of the time, those lines would be driving me insane (because I also live in the Chicago area), but in the crafty stores, I end up talking to the other people in line and asking them what they’re doing too! I’m a talkative sort, I guess.
So true! It’s funny – I don’t think I ever talk to people in line at other stores but I ALWAYS yack it up at this one.
Always happy talk, too! :)
Looks like you’ve nailed it with the “brownies.” The color is wonderful on this piece!
I’m impressed! Because if you tried that shizz here in Detroit, you could not depend on the kindness of strangers. :)
I avoid JoAnn like the plague, specifically because of the lines. You’d think they could help with our 14 per cent unemployment and hire a few people, but no.
Can’t wait to see what you’re making!
Some people here would let you back in line, some wouldn’t. We have snowbirds down here in Scottsdale from all over and most of them are nice. I always understand that line behavior because I am a seasoned line jumper. And I do it with grace and presumption….:) I always let other people back in line, too, I understand the necessity of line jumping at one time or another, or multiple times. I am from Michigan, but have lived in El Paso, Nashville, Minnesota, and here in Scottsdale. I do it at the grocery store, sometimes, too. Oh, I have also been chastised by my loved ones for striking up conversations in places like Jfab with strangers about what they are working on, what their opinion is about a selection, etc….crafters like to talk about what they are doing. An exception, I found, is the scrapbooking/art dept. The friendly conversationalists/happy demeanor folk are always in fabric/patterns/needlework departments. So the line is a mixture of the ugly and the nice…
BUTTON for your cardi: I say the teal. Pretty!
When I lived in Chicago, and someone was calling me out or mumbling at me, more often than not it was the classic local cuss out: f—–‘ j—–f!
Yes, I’m a middle aged lady, but I am still afraid to use unconstrained profanity on the internet. What if Rahm heard me?
HA! Joyce, we miss you over here! Da Mayor would probably join in with the f-bombs!