I did not want to be going on this trip.  But, here I was, at the airport: bored, frustrated, tired. As one does, I watched the crowd, my eyes naturally drawn to the interesting scenes. A TOUCH of the DROLE here, a little drama there. Nearby, some SPOKE in voices just loud enough to be heard ABOVE the hum of the crowd. From my vantage point, I could only catch snippets: “OZONE smell,” “dressed like a GNOME,” “told her to get stuffing.” Amused by the phrases and bemused by the idea that my poor hearing distorted the words, I idled away an hour between flights.

Georg’ann

Lately waves of nostalgia 
about Seminary Square Kroger. 
Remember cows in the field
along the railroad tracks
where now black top paved
parking lot, B-line trail. 
Childhood trips with, or for, 
my mother. Notes she’d write
asking to sell me cigarettes,
Benson and Hedges 100. 
Watched needle bounce
on the produce SCALE  
as I weighed every option. 
Danced in the aisles, 
read bride magazines, 
bought a garden GNOME
I thought was cute. 
Conversations with arms full. 
Almost an extension 
of our kitchen, barely dressed
hair a mess, run in quickly 
with flour streaks, pjs under coat.  
50 years shopping this store. 
Melting pot location, it’s known  
to have highest theft rate 
of any Kroger in the nation.

Heather