An out-of-state (not out-of-body) experience

Have you ever slept at a hotel or a friend's house, and when you wake up in the morning, you've forgotten where you are?

I had a similar feeling yesterday. Except I had the feeling as I was leaving Walgreen's.

Mustang LOVES Walgreen's. I tell him we should get some stock in it. When we were first dating, I noticed everything in his house was from there - toilet paper, light bulbs, snacks, everything. And he's a big believer in generics, so everything was even the Walgreen's brand.

So we run out of Advil, and of course, he suggests I run up to Walgreen's. And while there, could I also pick up some contact solution, a birthday card, V8, some wasp spray, and an ankle brace?

This is part of the allure of Walgreen's: despite being relatively small, they carry an odd variety. Sometimes the variety is VERY odd, i.e. homemade pralines, singing alarm clocks, and light-up dice all at the check-out counter.

Anyway, the Walgreen's here is built identically to the one by our OKC house. Faces the same direction to the intersection, same age, the aisles are laid out the same, etc. I spent about 30 minutes in there and got acclimated.

The weird feeling was, walking out, I completely expected to see the intersection of 122nd and May - see the bank with the JumboTron sign, the Blockbuster, the ritzy shopping center with Jamba Juice and J.J. Kelly.

Instead, I faced the intersection of NW Highway and Jupiter - and I see a Burger King, a Lowe's, and a Popeye's chicken. And a whole bunch of people waiting at the bus stop.

It was like I forgot I was in Dallas while I was inside Walgreen's and then was suddenly transported back when I exited the doors. It was a very strange feeling. I realize I felt the same way leaving Target a few days ago.

Just an observation that I don't know my way around the city yet and I find comfort in the familiarity of Target and Walgreen's.

Gratitude for the simple things.