More tales from AutoZone

I had to go back to AutoZone this afternoon to pick up the part that they needed to ship in from a nearby store. However, they still did not have the second brake rotor that I needed. I asked if any nearby store within reasonable driving distance had the part. After checking their inventory system, they guy at the store put the last part I needed on hold at the Hartford AutoZone. They directed me to the corner of Blue Hills Ave. and Albany Ave. to pick it up. In other words, I was driving into the heart of the Hartford Ghetto. While this is probably nothing like Detroit or the south side of Chicago, Albany Ave. is a part of Hartford that I avoid when I go downtown.

I drove down Blue Hills Ave from Bloomfield into Hartford for the first time. I didn’t realize that there were so many huge houses on this road. It was kind of like driving on Prospect near the governor’s mansion; only these houses were probably last renovated/painted about fifty years ago.

I get to AutoZone and have another random encounter. This guy walks into the store looking to replace his side view mirror. Apparently someone hit his parked car and ran last night. When he walked into the store, he first walked up to a pretty lady in the store and said, “What up beautiful. What brings a fine woman like you here today”. When that woman ignored him, he tried the line on someone else. He eventually goes and asks for help at the counter next to where I am standing. He then turns to me and complains about the damage to his car. We start talking about his car when he starts asking me about Michigan. I was wearing a Michigan sweatshirt (big surprise there, I know). He asked if I was currently a student and I said I graduated from there a while ago. He said that makes sense since I look about twenty-eight years old. I am twenty-five, thank you very much.

Once both employees helping us were looking for parts, the dude asks if I smoke pot and if I would be interested in buying some from him. Where would he get that idea? Every damn time I walk into AutoZone someone assumes I smoke pot. I have never touched the stuff and I never plan to. Why would you think otherwise? Seriously, I don’t get it.

Once I got the part I needed, I quickly left the store and returned home. No more AutoZone’s for a while. Please.