The Neighborhood Grocery Store

We have been shopping at this little neighborhood store for the past 4 years.  We are familiar with the people that work there.  They greet us with friendly smiles in the familiar form of German words and even practice their English with us while we practice our German.  When other friends who live in Vienna talk about their horrible grocery store experiences, we are very grateful for our neighborhood Billa.

I think one of the reasons I like this little store so much is that in some ways it reminds me of my dad's store.  The way the produce, meat and cold section is set up, the cleanliness of the store and the way it is lighted bring back memories of Sundown Market.  So, in a way, it is a little bit of home right down the street.

A sign went up in our neighborhood store early last week, and it took me a few days to figure out what it said. The day I confirmed with the clerk how the sign translated into English, I walked home from the store in tears.  The store is closing on November 29th.  Why would I react this way?  It's just a grocery store. But this event brings to mind other life experiences.

The day my dad left his store, Sundown Market, for the last time, he entered the hospital where he was later diagnosed with cancer.  The following summer, Sundown Market was sold to a new owner.  The day I had to say goodbye to my dad's store, I cried more than any other time since my grandmother died.  Now, of course, those tears look like streams compared to the ocean of tears I've cried since that day. But, the store held so many memories of my dad especially with my kids.  It really felt like the beginning of saying goodbye to my dad even though he fought cancer for two more years after the store sold.

This is a difficult week anyway.  One that is painful with sweet memories at the best times.  To have "our" store close only serves to cut open the wounds of grief that are only beginning to heal.