President Trump's communication's director does her own grocery shopping. And she does it without anybody to assist or guard her. She's a strong, independent woman, you could say.
Anyway, I was spacing out in the canned foods section of the downtown DC Whole Foods when I suddenly noticed 28-year-old Hope Hicks pushing a shopping cart to the register. I recognized her instantly. She was dressed in a white dress, black coat, and white flats you could tell she didn't wear at work. She was not as tall as I expected, but boy did she stand out from the crowd. Her hair and makeup were fully done. It was a Monday night, the busiest night of the week for groceries, so she was waiting in a long line to pay.
I couldn't believe the former "It Girl" model and actress, who is being paid the same salary that Trump paid his former strategist Steve Bannon, was grocery shopping all alone. She was not accompanied by any sort of security detail. Nobody in the crowded market even seemed to know who she was! I wondered whether she'd ever heard of Instacart or Amazon Express.
I waited for Hicks to finish paying, then approached her.
"Hope?" I asked in my awkward, fidgety manner. I was coincidentally wearing my Independent Journal Review sweater. I hoped she wouldn't notice it and think I stalked her all the way to Whole Foods for a story.
"Yes?" she replied. Phew. I had her full attention. Awesome.
"Well, my name is Pardes," I began. "I know who you are. I've written articles about you before, for IJR. Well, that's not why I'm here. I don't work for IJR anymore. I just happened to be here and I happen to be wearing my IJR sweater but I think it's cool that you're here and I'm here..."
"That's very nice," Hicks interjected politely, walking out of the store.
I ran after her like a twelve-year-old.
"Do you think you could take a selfie with me? And then maybe I could interview you?" I asked.
"I don't do that kind of stuff," she replied, increasing her pace as she returned her shopping cart in front of the store and took her bags.
"Well, how 'bout this. Could you give me some life advice? Like, what should people like me do to be successful in life?" I asked.
She sighed, visibly irritated.
"Like, maybe [advice] for other young people, or women?" I continued in a pitch several decibels higher than when I had started talking.
"Be passionate," she finally said. "Follow your passions."
She disappeared. And I kicked myself for not taking a photo when she wasn't looking.