Trader Joe's Magic

I know I have frequently blogged about my ongoing love affair with Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups and their oh-so-delicious sipping chocolate (seasonal only, unfortunately!)  I hope I don't bore you if I continue singing the praises of TJ's.

When Lotta and I were in Trader Joe's recently, I suddenly realized I'd missed an aisle.  And I felt a great amount of gratitude knowing that the aisle in question was steps away from me.  Not clear across a football field sized arena, but barely an arm's length away.  Fit my energy level at that moment particularly well.  Another bonus is that I do not have a great many Ellie memories in Trader Joe's like I do for Willy Street Co-op, so I am not constantly fighting back tears as I am in WSC.  Finally I adore how extra specially, uniquely authentically friendly the staff is.

I was at Trader Joe's on Saturday with Lotta.  The person checking us out was named, "Ben", just like MY Ben!  He told me our total was (drumroll please) $126, which as you may or may not know, Ellie was born on January 26th (1/26).  It just made me smile, and feel closer to Ellie, like she was sending me a message, something that I hadn't felt in quite some time.  Then the person behind me in line, their total was $13, which, again, as you may or may not know, Ellie passed away on the 13th of January.  That Trader Joe's Magic.