The Weekend Means a Costco Pilgrimage – Brian’s Blog

When you have a family as large as mine, a trip to Costco is a pretty regular thing. But to me, it's more. So much more.

My first exposure to Costco was in the late 1980s when some friends took us to a warehouse in the Tacoma area. I think we split a huge box of tortilla chips. When the first Union Gap warehouse opened, I became a member and still regularly shop there.

In addition to buying things in large quantities, which is a must for a family of seven like mine, Costco can also be a pretty entertaining outing.

Sample days are the best. It's a chance to get nibbles of new food products that Costco carries. Want to sample some cheese? How about corn dogs or some yakisoba? You can find it on Saturday at Costco. Let me tell you, for a Lap Band patient like me sample day at Costco is like a trip to a Vegas buffet for most people.

I love to check out the books, clothing, the groceries. I just like to walk around the place! My two-year-old son knows the way to the warehouse by heart when we get in the minivan. "Costco" is one of the first words he learned to say!

My family also likes to play the "Who will we run into at Costco" game, too. We always see someone we know.

I like a trip to Costco so much that sometimes my wife will go there while I'm at work, and call me to see if we need anything. I'm crushed. She went without me.

She also recently did some online shopping at Costco for a few things that we usually pick up at the warehouse. I asked if it was just to keep me from going. She said no. Hmmmm.

Doesn't matter. I can still go just to walk around this weekend.

See you there!