You’ve seen that email that’s been circulating on the internet about the people of Walmart. You know, the one where the large 300-pound woman is wearing a g-string peeking out of her you-know-what. Or the guy walking around only in underwear and a cold weather cap and boots. Walmart definitely has a culture of its own and I don’t know anybody who is actually proud to shop there.
In fact, I’ve been a part of some Walmart boycotts when I used to live in California. Many of my friends are social justice advocates. Because some of their products are made and bought in rather sketchy ways and the treatment of their employees has come into question, the corporation has raised a lot of eyebrows concerning their ethical and moral practices. The “W” word is forbidden among my family in Mississippi. Walmart is infamous for invading towns and completely ridding the landscape of small businesses, like local grocery stores, an industry that Amy’s family has been involved in for decades.
My brother and I used to work for them when we were teenagers. I gathered carts and he worked the layaway counter. I was employed there during a time in my life where I thought it was cool to shoplift. I never could fit in to any group so I remember trying to impress people by stealing markers and “tagging” on walls. Truth is, I couldn’t find the courage to steal so I’d buy the markers, put them in my pockets and pass them out to my wannabe criminal friends as if I stole them. And whenever I went “tagging” I vandalized sidewalks with colored chalk. What was wrong with me?
A few weeks ago, I was hanging out with my brother, Eric. It was our last day in California. At about midnight, we were sitting on my parents couch wondering what to do. With a cigerette dangling from his mouth he asked, “You wanna go to Walmart?” And of course my response was, “Heck Yes!”
It had been years since Eric went to the 24 hour “Wally World” in Union City. And let me tell you, the people shopping in their at 1am truly brought credence to the stereotype. I started making fun of people in my head. Shopping in pajamas? Why were kids playing with toys at this time of night? But after a few minutes, I had to stop. Eric was wearing a hoodie, basketball shorts and shoes not completely tied without socks. You couldn’t see his face because of his hood. I was wearing jeans and dress shoes with white socks and a tight t-shirt. We both had our hands in our pockets, walking side by side, and we were shopping for nothing. Who window shops at Walmart? I realized that we were a part of that culture! Man oh man.
But it was a time for bonding. We didn’t really talk about anything serious, but we talked. Eric bought me a thermal and an exercise shirt. He also bought Amy a few iTunes gift cards. We perused every department. It was Eric who got me that job when I was a teenager. Yeah, talk about humbling since I’m his OLDER brother. He also introduced me to a bunch of his friends. All of our lives Eric has always been the popular one. I was known throughout high school as Eric’s brother…even at Walmart. He taught me about brand name electronics, consumer reports and trends. Eric always made fun of the way I dressed. I just could never get it right. My entire visit to the Bay Area was filled with heckling because of my perfect fit jeans with a tucked in shirt.
So Eric makes sure that I have clothes. I always wear Eric’s hand me downs. Again I say, I am his OLDER brother. But my most favorite articles of clothing are the ones he’s given me, even if they don’t fit. I guess they just have sentimental value. I wore the Northface pullover he gave me the entire time we were vacationing. And I’ll wear it out here in the scorching Philippine sun because it is my favorite piece of clothing.
I confess, I love Walmart. Sure, it has a lot to do with the fact that I think of home. I wish Walmart was out here in the Philippines. But mainly I love Walmart because it reminds me of my brother. It’s the place to be, just as long as you can stomach the linebacker of a man wearing daisy dukes bending over to tie his shoe in front of you as you wait at the check out counter.
