Golden Gopher said:
Been putting off my usual every-couple-of-weeks Costco run for a few days now. Decided to bite the bullet and just go this morning, needing milk, eggs, half and half, meat, etc. plus some snacks and stuff for my three kids. Figured they may or may not have TP or disinfectant wipes, but it would be a bonus if they did.
I arrived to the parking lot at 9:40 (they open at 10:00, but I expected there would be a crowd waiting). Parking lot was almost full. As I approached the entrance, I saw that they had blocked entry with a line of carts standing on end. People were lined up, waiting to enter, around the corner. I walked towards the end of the line, and as I turned the corner (around towards where the gas and tire departments are), I saw that the line continued for what was probably several city blocks. The length of the parking lot, then back, then down again.... zig zagging back and forth, the full length of the parking lot each time. Hundreds of people.
I decided to just wait and see what would happen when they opened. Stood by the front entrance (there were a few others with apparently the same plan of action). The store opened its doors at 9:45... 15 minutes earlier than normal. I watched and waited for 15 minutes while people streamed in, showing their membership cards. At 10:00, the line hadn't gotten any shorter. As fast as they were entering the store, people from the parking lot were joining the line. At that point, I decided I'll just go back later, hoping it's not as crazy. They'll be out of TP, bottled water, and probably a few other items, but hopefully not the majority of the things on my list. Or maybe they will be?
I have seen some pretty crazy Costco experiences. This was like nothing I've ever experienced. Call it Black Friday times 10.
Went back to Costco at about 4:30 this afternoon. It was busy, but NOTHING like this morning. Went in like normal, other than the fact that there were literally ZERO carts near the store entrance. They were instead scattered around the parking lot, in clusters of 10-20, in addition to all of the metal "cart corrals" being packed. Inside, I pretty much got everything I was there for.... eggs, milk, half and half, snacks, booze, and lots of meat. Enough to last a month, roughly. They also had kids Benedryl, tylenol, and vitamins on sale, so I grabbed some of each.
Things they were out of.... toilet paper, paper towels, tissues/kleenex, water (no bottles of any size), antibacterial wipes, and organic ground beef. Mostly pretty much what I expected.
On my way out, I asked the guy checking me out if they re-stock the TP daily. He said that they do, but it's been selling out within an hour or two every day. I may go back tomorrow and, if it's not as crazy as this morning was, grab some. My gut says we will be quarantined soon. Public schools here (Ventura County) are closing Monday 3/16, until at least April 10th. Los Angeles County is something similar (not sure on the dates, but they're closing).
I coach my 7YO son's baseball team, and we just had our first game on Monday evening (lost 9-7). Got an email tonight that says all little league activities are suspended indefinitely. My mind went to "What if the season is a wrap, and I end up not coaching next year? What if my career coaching record ends at 0-1? I can't let that happen. Need to coach again next year!" Sometimes it's funny where your mind drifts to in times like these.
That said, I was also thinking today about how I would normally be so incredibly bummed about all of the sports cancellations. NCAA tourney< even though it's not as great as it once was, is like Christmas morning for me. TPC Sawgrass also. Not to mention baseball opening day, the NBA, and the upcoming NFL draft (still yet to be determined how that is impacted by all of this). And, while I still get bummed thinking about all of those things, there is so much more to think about. My kids (9, 7, and 4). My parents (70 and 69). My GF (a widow) and her 13YO daughter. How I would do just about anything to protect the people closest to me. Sports becomes a minor detail, even though I am admittedly as big of a sports nut as anyone. This really puts things in perspective, and in a big hurry.