If you think Walmarts are interesting during ‘normal' daytime hours, you ain't seen nothing until you've been to Walmart after midnight.

My husband and I worked at Walmart for about two years when the first store opened in 1983, which is where we met. Some 24 years later, I went back to work at Walmart for three years, working overnight.

Working at night and into the wee hours of the morning while the rest of the world was sleeping was an adventure. As it turns out, I soon found out ‘the rest of the world' doesn't always sleep at night, and when they do, they either go to the Waffle House or Walmart.

Now, my daddy always told me ‘Nothing good happens after midnight, so don't be out if you can help it, but if you do, be very careful.' One person you never question is your daddy; He always knows best and he knows what he's talking about. Once again, Daddy proved he was right.

It's perfectly normal to see people shopping late at night and into the early morning hours this time of year. Some do so to avoid the crowds that typically shop during peak hours, some try to get that one coveted must-have item as soon as it comes in and hits the shelves at night, and there are others who work at night and take advantage of their schedule to shop.

But you also get customers who may be up to something, and that's another thing you have to be really careful about when working overnight. Ask anybody in law enforcement or emergency services and they'll tell you, the real lulus come out at night.

You also have kids who have nothing else to do but go hang out at Walmart and see what kind of mischief they can get into. Most of them are just looking to have a little harmless fun, but if I ever catch the kid who set off that deer lure bomb in the store one night, he better take off running and say his prayers.

When that thing went off, it permeated the whole place and all the Extra Strength Lysol in the world wouldn't kill that smell. As for those of us who were working that night, I don't know how we made it all night without suffering ill side effects.

I saw a bit of everything at Walmart, and nothing surprises me anymore. I have seen people shopping in Winnie the Pooh pajamas, bunny slippers, camouflage attire, surgical and medical scrubs, curlers, formal gowns, tuxedos, wedding dresses and even a few clowns who came in disguised as women, but that's another story.

I can't imagine what might make a person feel the need to shop in their pajamas. What I sleep in is not your typical ‘pajamas' so heaven forbid if there were an emergency and I suddenly had to leave the house in my pajamas. There's probably a law against inappropriately dressing in public and I would be in violation.

I loved working at Walmart, but left when the opportunity to work a ‘normal 9-5' office position presented itself. I miss seeing my coworkers and customers and yes, even working overnights.
Since leaving Walmart earlier this year, I am constantly asked "When are you coming back?' when I run into former coworkers. I have never ruled out that possibility, and if the opportunity presented itself, I would gladly take it. Walmart is not only a great place to shop, but a great place to work, thanks to a combination of good management and the best coworkers you could ever ask for.

So next time you're having trouble sleeping at night, consider taking a trip to your local Walmart. You never know what you might find and you might decide to change your shopping habits.

Beth Rowe may be reached at opieorowe@att.net.