What started out as an ordinary trip to Costco, (to feed the sharp cheddar cheese addiction, obviously), quickly got weird when not three minutes after I entered, we lost power. Black out.

But because it’s Costco, there were, of course generators which quickly brought us back to about 30% of the regular lighting. We could now walk around without the feel of a giant, creepy, low-cost-buy-in-bulk haunted house.

Apparently though, the generators were not good enough to keep the frozen food frozen and the cold food cold.  When I attempted to open the clear, glass door which held my beloved sharp cheddar just inches behind, I was approached by a fast speaking Korean, who I believe was telling me that because of the black out, I could not open the door; the cold must stay inside.

In shock and disappointment, I turned to head in the direction of the Tillamook colby jack, thinking I could at least get a colby since it’s not behind “locked” doors, but rather in a lower case…. But that’s when I saw it…

Mass hysteria (ok, not mass, but at least by the Costco employees).

Loads of Costco workers, from the floor and from the back, frantically emptying all the frozen food out of the cases and into carts, which I can only assume were to be taken to the back freezer, where it can be kept colder?

And then… a sound… a swirling…

A new wave of chaos set in. What to do? Continue loading frozen chicken thighs onto the carts or put them back where they belong? The tension was in the air. A pause. Nervous glances at one another.  A beat.

So I took advantage. I rushed over to the cheese section, grabbed my colby, and I was out of there before anyone even noticed.