H.E.B. R.I.P.

The Presa Street H.E.B. is closed. It's a big change in our neighborhood, and there's not much of a silver lining in it, either.
Here's a story sent to us from a neighbor, that perfectly captures the new, sadder, reality.

This morning was our family's first experience with the new H-E-B. We woke up and realized we were running out of milk for baby.
"I'll just run to the ... " My husband's voice trailed off as we both remembered that we'd never be able to walk down the street to pick up a couple items from the H-E-B #6 again.
But baby needed milk, so he gamely hopped in the car to drive to McCreeless.
More than 20 minutes later, my phone rang. It was my husband. He was standing in a horrendous line, with his three measly items. Every register has a long line, every customer a full basket.
Even the express-lane was packed. He waited patiently for another 10 minutes before getting to the cashier.
When he finally arrived home -- almost an HOUR after he left -- we opened the Express-News to read the front-page story about the new H-E-B.
What's that, there's an Azteca, a Fiesta and a Culebra Meat Market nearby?
You can bet we'll be visiting them all soon.