I decided you might enjoy my adventure into retail land when the only option for a postage free Amazon was to take it to Kohl's.
My first effort, while I was out and about doing errands last week was to put "Kohls" into my Prius destination "resource". She found an astonishing abundance of options: the first and closest option was over 1000 miles away.
My next effort began at home where I used the internet to find the Eugene location, which was in Gateway. Groan. I had bailed on errands early last week as traffic had amped up as holiday hostages barrelled around town fulfilling plans of presents, feasts. decor, and discount antacids. So I decided to wait until Tues. morning, leaving at 8:30 (between likely bursts of start for work traffic) to arrive when it opened at 9 am.
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| My December Screen Saver |
I recalled that I did not recall WHERE in Gateway Kohl's was, so I started at the northwest side and drove around counter clockwise looking my goal...looking for my goal... encouraged by large signs suggesting Kohl's was to be found in this shopping-verse.
And as I did this I amazed at how drastically it had changed since last I went there. I do not recall the year, but it was a long long time ago when I thought the Dude and I should go see a movie the day after Thanksgiving. Clearly, I had paid scant attention to how that day had been hijacked by the pre-holiday (*see note below for spell check fail) hunting/gathering frenzy. The traffic was epic. I have done that TWICE now.
It had been many years since I had even a bad reason to go to Gateway. The beltline access was grander, but the store offerings seemed diminished from a fairly low prior level. Of course Covid had resulted in much brick&mortar (more accurately frame&plaster board) retail store culling. But still, wow! (and not in a good way).
And here is the delicious chewy center of this tale: in my mind I was comparing my last impression of Valley River Center (also eons ago) to today's Gateway. I had a little chuckle at my myself. These days my memories, or what I think are memories, are a dependable source of suddenly needing to pee.
* Spell check did not recognize pre-holiday, I was offered per- ore- pee- pr- re-. I am reasonably sure (not researching) that non of these are in Webster's or OED. But if so, please do not enlighten me. Also, amazingly Covid is also not recognized.