Appreciate the Pig. And no, I don't mean the Beale Street BBQ joint. I mean PigglyWiggly. One of the great contributions of Memphis to the world.
You see, if I have my story straight, Piggly Wiggly (which is not, as a Yankee recently asked me, just a joke from Driving Miss Daisy) was the first grocery store, where you walked around, picked out what you wanted and then went to the cashier and checked out, instead of having to ask the clerk for the items you wanted to purchase. And Piggly Wiggly started in Memphis. We have the Pink Palace to prove it.
In Russia, the old system is still in place in about fifty percent of produkti (little groceries) and some larger stores. And while I'm sure that shopping there would be easier if I were used to the system and could speak the language, I now have a greater appreciation for the Pig and all of it's offspring. (Except Wal-mart, which I haven't really missed.)
So, don't let anyone ever say Memphis ain't paid her dues.
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How interesting. I think this is also true in some small places in England. In Alton Brown's road trip series, when they were in Memphis, they went to the Pink Palace Piggly Wiggly. It was actually kinda cool.
Rhodes misses you, btw.
Also, I have to share. I, in my total awesomeness, burned my toe while cooking tonight. Ponder that for a while, if you will.
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