always, same end result

I'm talking to Zelia and she says, "I'm going to Costco today, wanna come?" I rarely resist a trip to Costco.

I put together a short list:

Most of the things on it are for Alexander, who seems to eat constantly and remains thin nonetheless.

I hate big-chain grocery stores, and rarely go in them (Whole Foods being the exception).  But there's something about Costco that appeals to me. I don't know if it's the wide open aisles, the large range of offerings, or the fact that TV's, winter coats, and  furniture are sold along side tunafish. 

Zelia and I never go to Costco on a weekend. But it's a holiday, and we figure the city's pretty much empty.  We figure wrong. We get to Costco and find most of New York City, despite perfect beach weather. The wide aisles seem narrow with so many wielding those mammoth  carts.

My short list of ten items quickly grows. The rack of lamb I got last time was great. I pick up two packages. The blueberries and pluots look delicious. I remember that we're out of crackers and low on the frozen shrimp scampi. Now that I've been shopping at Costco for a few years, I know what to buy, and it always gets eaten.

The check out line is surprisingly fast. We are in and out in under an hour. But why is it— every single time — 

I can never ever escape Costco for under $200? Even with a short list of under ten items.