I start with his funny story. He went to the sports store in Carlingwood Mall looking for running shoes. Now, you have to know that mostly this store sells shoes, although it is a sports store.
Two clerks were chatting. He was the only customer. They had a whole wall of running shoes. JB was looking at a high top shoe. Perhaps it might give him some support. They don't carry his size in our small town.
One young guy comes over to him, asking if he needs help."Yes, do these come in extra wide?" Young clerk looked puzzled.
"What size do you need?"
"I'm wearing a size 9, but 4E."
"Is that a European size? Can you tell me what that is in American sizing. The bigger the shoe the wider it is."
"No, I need extra wide. I need 9EEEE."
JB gave up. Someone hasn't had product knowledge (PK) seminars. Both JB and I while of average stature, we both have wide feet. How could this kid not know what wide sizes are? I guess it is like the time we were hunting for a special phone for my dad, we wanted the one capable of producing a decibels. The clerk didn't know what a 'decibel' was.
Back to his trip, and Carlingwood Mall. They are tearing down the parking garage. This is in the rear of the closed Sears store, the parking garage. It's the end of an era. We used to go there all the time as a family. Sears employees are fighting for their pensions, as Sears has closed stores in Canada.
This Sears store has fond memories for both of us. Taking our respective family members, we spent a fair amount of time and money here. Having lost their anchor store, Sears, it's changed the mall.
JB and Bob had lunch at the Golden Palace, again. Bob doesn't have a car, so they meet where he can get a bus. They've been friends a long time, having been roommates after university, in Ottawa.
Their server remembered them, and mentioned that they'd sat in the same spot last time. The food was better! A good time had by all.
