Last week, I lamented about the new shopping carts at my local grocery store. This week, I have to tell you that they have provided a new reason to keep Ari interested during our supermarket trips. Who’s keeping Ari enthralled? Funny you should ask! It’s Marty!
But…
Marty is more of a what than a who. You see, Marty is a robot that scans the store looking for spills to clean up. To me, he’s a nuisance since he often blocks aisles or intersections between aisle.

But for Ari, Marty is entertaining! He beeps. He moves around. Heck, he has goggly eyes! What’s not to love about a robot when you’re a kid in a cart at the grocery store?
One of the checkout people saw Ari’s huge smile when Marty cruised by today. She thought it was adorable that he likes Marty so much. Therefore, she let us in on a secret. She told us where Marty recharges in case we ever can’t find him when we go to Giant!
On our way out of the store, Ari insisted we find Marty. (We followed the beeps to the produce department.) Ari called, “Bye, Marty!” He even blew a kiss! And this evening, he told Marc all about seeing Marty at the store.
Love Ari’s friend Marty. What a treat for him for grocery store visits! And love how you worked in the fact that there is more than one POV when thinking of Marty!
Oh, to see the world again through the eyes of a child! Marty is pretty fascinating, though, even if he – um, it? – occasionally gets in the way. I’m so amused by the cashier letting you all in on where Marty recharges – I can see my own son, when he was small, deliberately searching that out. And the blowing of the kiss – too, too sweet.
I like love Ari’s world. No amazing robots at our Whole Foods but because of Ari, I looked for the kid snacks this week. Not Fruit but they were there. I’m glad Ari is here to keep me seeing through child eyes.
That’s so fun. If our stores had a Marty, maybe grocery shopping would be less of a traumatic event!
Today you wrote the slice, but just think, it’s exactly the kind of moment that will have Ari writing before you know it!
Haven’t seen any Marty’s around here. Wonder when our Giant will get one.
Our grocery stores still have the “clean up in aisle 7” intercoms, no Marty. What a fun way to view life, through Ari’s eyes. It’s too bad we ever have to change that perspective ourselves! 🙂
What a progressive store! We still have the human types doing the clean up. Ari would not be entertained in our stores.
Adorable! What a high-tech store you have!
So cool! Is he interactive? I would love him to talk back to Ari!
I so wish we had a robot around here, but hearing about Ari’s entertainment was super! Thanks for sharing.
I think that I need a robot in my classroom, at my house. I love that your little Ari gets so excited about a robot! Thanks for sharing this slice!