Doing my rounds at a grocery store this week, I saw the cutest little girl on her tiptoes next to the bulk candy.  She was quickly scooping large amounts of sweets into several bags. She appeared to be unsupervised and apparently had a master plan.  When her parents discovered what she was doing, they would be forced to purchase the candy she had worked so hard to scoop.

Seeing this girl brought back memories of shopping when I was a little girl.  I remember having a strong desire to get locked in a grocery store.  My siblings and I would scout out areas where we could hide until they closed down the store and locked us in.  The rest of the night would be spent piggin’ out on ice cream, chips, and fruit snacks.

Not only did the grocery store provide a fantasy, but department stores were sometimes more than I could handle. Those clothes racks made a far better fort than blankets hanging over our dining room table.  Hiding from mom was a sure way to get a good read on how much she cared. The journey from one circular rack to the next was such a thrill. Sitting in the middle holding your breath, hoping nobody would see past the clothes hanging around you was quite the adventure — until you realize mom was nowhere to be seen.

The only thing more entertaining than the round racks of clothes were the escalators.  Though stores containing these "rides" were a rarity, when you saw those shiny mobile stairs, you knew the shopping trip was worth all the walking. My brother and I used to challenge each other to races up the down escalators and visa versa. This is a rush! If you never got the chance when you were a kid, I recommend you try it sometime.  I still have to fight the urge when on my current shopping trips.

Posing with the mannequins was another fun shopping pastime. I am now aware that a chubby, hyper kid with messy hair and blinking eyes probably stood out from the real mannequins, despite my breath-holding abilities. People pointed, and I got a few stares and giggles.  It made me happy to think that I could have a future as a mannequin someday.

Obviously I haven’t fulfilled my grocery store dream, have not been able to find any sort of escalator racing competitions, and my goal of becoming a mannequin never really panned out.  However, the memories of those shopping trips never fail to put a smile on my face, especially when I see kids enjoying the same recreational activities I used to.

Shootin’ the Wit is a weekly column about everyday life that should never, ever be taken too seriously.