4 | MAY 20 • 2021 

PURELY COMMENTARY

for openers

Hot Dog Heaven
A

s more vaccine shots get into 
the arms of Americans, more 
wonderful heartwarming sto-
ries of family reunions are surfacing. 
While reunions with family members 
during the ongoing pandemic take 
precedent over anything 
else, I would be less than 
forthright if I didn’t admit 
that, for me, a different 
kind of reunion recently 
took a close second — my 
being reunited with a 
Costco all-beef hot dog.
Until a couple of weeks 
ago, I hadn’t been in a 
Costco in over a year. Costco, which 
for my money, usurps Disney World as 
the happiest place on Earth.
Despite my being vaccinated, I 
remain vigilant. But I have loosened 
the reins on some activities, which 
now include short visits into stores. 
I had not fully committed to a hot 
dog when I made my long-awaited 
return to Costco. My first priority was 
securing the goods I had come for. 
Only after checking out would I make 
my final frankfurter decision 
and that would hinge on how 
long the line was at the 
concession stand.
It turns out only one 
customer was ahead 
of me. I was only 6 
mandatory feet away from 
hot dog heaven! 
At $1.50, I still react to 
the combo hot dog/drink deal 
at Costco like real dogs greet their 
owners after being gone all day. I just 
hope no one saw me wiggle my rear 
end when I approached the counter.
Current health restrictions restrict 
condiments for hot dogs being 
available on their usual self-serve 
basis. Ketchup and mustard are handed 
out in small cups and sadly, onions are 

not an option for the time being. Too 
bad, because I could have blamed the 
onions on the tears running down my 
face when I took my first bite.
I saved the majority of my inhaling 
the rest of the hot dog until I returned 
to my car. I don’t text and drive, but I 
will digest and drive … although the 
dog was gone before I turned on the 
ignition.
I think you’d agree that as we’ve 
moved through these bizarre times, 
simple pleasures are simply more 
pleasurable. And, for me, it usually 
involves food, as my second long-
awaited food reunion to my friendly 
neighborhood Yoz Yogurt store 
proved.
Mary is the proprietor and, if you 
will, the “Wizard of Yoz” of two 
locations in West Bloomfield — the 
Crosswinds Mall and Simsbury Plaza.
Like a lot of businesses lately, it’s 
been difficult for Mary to find people 
to work, forcing her 
to juggle 

hours of operation. This has led to 
another fallout out from the pandemic 
— the rare, but occasional impatient 
visiting customer who voices their 
displeasure about the changing hours 
or their short wait in line. I learned 
about this from a message Mary 
posted on her Yoz Facebook page 
which read in part:
“Please try to be understanding 
with what Yoz is going through right 
now. We are doing the best we can 
with what we have. At least we are still 
in business at this point, serving you 
when we can. Please keep supporting 
us! Thank you!”
I spoke with Mary, and I know she 
struggled with the idea of having to 
post that message. I told her I had 
witnessed firsthand the impatient 
displeasure of someone who, when 
informed their order would be ready 
in five minutes, rolled their eyes and 
left. But I’m not surprised. There 
seems to be an uptick in “normal” 
everyday selfishness that has reared its 
ugly head during this pandemic. 
Like the yogurt, I would ask 
customers of all businesses to 
“chill.” Perhaps implement a 
“cone” of silence and remember 
to not waver in our patience and 
appreciation for those frontline 
workers who, despite progress in 
the pandemic, are still faced with 
challenges. 
Update: Since writing the original 
draft of this column I’ve made a return 
visit to Costco and had another hot 
dog. There’s an old saying: “Don’t let 
the same dog bite you twice.” I couldn’t 
disagree more. 

Alan Muskovitz is a writer, voice-over/acting 

talent, speaker, and emcee. Visit his website at 

laughwithbigal.com,“Like” Al on Facebook and 

reach him at amuskovitz@renmedia.us.

Alan 
Muskovitz
Contributing 
Writer

