 |
| Clockwise from the top, Aunt Marie with her nieces Norma Jean, Brenda and Cathy. |
Kmart has a back-to-school commercial out right now that features a group of middle school kids running around and dancing to "We've Got the Beat." It's been a long time since Kmart was on my shopping radar but someone in their marketing department knows what they're doing because every time my daughter sees this commercial she asks if we can go to Kmart - because it's so cool. I'm fairly certain that Sarah has never been inside a Kmart, mainly because I have no idea where a Kmart is here in Nashville, but after seeing this commercial over and over again she really wants to go. I've told her that when I was her age we shopped at Kmart all the time because Target hadn't been invented yet. "Lucky!" she yelled at me. Now she thinks I'm depriving her of some great shopping experience because she's never been to Kmart. Things only got worse for me after I told her about my Aunt Marie.
Aunt Marie was my grandmother's older sister (you're welcome, Grandma) and she was a woman who lived life on her own terms. She had a long memory for grievances, cooked badly but proudly and had her husband sneak ham sandwiches into the Cardiac Care Unit at the hospital because her restricted diet was too bland. Aunt Marie also loved the Kmart Blue Light Specials - a lot. When I explained to Sarah just what a Kmart Blue Light Special involved (an announcement over the store intercom, a flashing blue light, a mad rush to get whatever was on sale whether you needed it or not) she became even more convinced that she had to get to a Kmart. And silly me, I realized too late that I'd introduced my daughter to the idea of competative shopping - something that even at the tender age of six really appeals to her. So, on our next road trip while I'm in the front seat scouting the horizen for IKEA signs, I'm guessing Sarah will be in the back seat keeping her eyes peeled for a Kmart, and when we find one I can tell her about her Aunt Marie all over again.
Aunt Marie was my grandmother's older sister (you're welcome, Grandma) and she was a woman who lived life on her own terms. She had a long memory for grievances, cooked badly but proudly and had her husband sneak ham sandwiches into the Cardiac Care Unit at the hospital because her restricted diet was too bland. Aunt Marie also loved the Kmart Blue Light Specials - a lot. When I explained to Sarah just what a Kmart Blue Light Special involved (an announcement over the store intercom, a flashing blue light, a mad rush to get whatever was on sale whether you needed it or not) she became even more convinced that she had to get to a Kmart. And silly me, I realized too late that I'd introduced my daughter to the idea of competative shopping - something that even at the tender age of six really appeals to her. So, on our next road trip while I'm in the front seat scouting the horizen for IKEA signs, I'm guessing Sarah will be in the back seat keeping her eyes peeled for a Kmart, and when we find one I can tell her about her Aunt Marie all over again.
You know, there is a K-Mart on Donelson Pike. My father, much like your aunt, was addicted (still is) with K-mart. His small Indiana town even has a Target but he prefers to shop at K-Mart. I've returned many gifts there during our 13 years in Nashville. You two need to go on your road trip and show her what deals she's been missing. Hope she won't be dissapointed!
ReplyDeleteKelly D
Love it! We thought our K-mart (or "K K"- because we shorten) was SO fun because of the crazy blue light specials. And when my husband and I were on our honeymoon in Mexico, the local sales people would yell, "BLUE LIGHT SPECIAL" to the Americans passing by. K-Mart transcends cultural barriers! Ha!
ReplyDelete-Hillary @ The Other Mama
Our Aunt Irene took me to KMART, in Dallas, for the first time in my life. They were not in CA yet. She bought me a polyester, blue sport coat and gray slacks to wear to the play, 'How Now Dow Jones?', which we attended with Uncle Donald's boss, wife and son. I too was impressed with the world of goods and wore my new clothes with pride! Good write!
ReplyDelete