Who knew that fulfilling a basic need like providing food for survival would besuch an ordeal. My friends who are using delivery services are a lot smarter than me.
Trips to the grocery store used to be fun – or at least that’s how I remember them. Now, it’s, OK. Take a breath, let’s go. I say to myself, you can do this! I mask up, be sure the shopping list is complete because. god forbid, you don’t want to just cruise the aisles looking for interesting items that might work for a future meal. Oh no. Be sure that mask is firmly in place before entering the store, wait to go in, be absolutely sure your destinations are clear and absolutely no dawdling. Go straight to each item on the list, hope that no one else is in that aisle and if there is, step back, baby. Stay as far away as possible from any grocery store personnel and definitely stay away from other patrons. Not just six feet away, but as far away as possible. If someone is in your aisle destination, wait for that person to clear out, grab the item and get the hell out before someone else shows up. Before Covid, I would rhapsodize over the produce. I love the produce section. Such beautiful colors. Green and leafy. Wonderful shapes. Beautiful red tomatoes. The almost fuchsia color of radishes. Oh, those peaches and that wonderful smell. Full disclosure, I used to – back in the day when you could actually touch before you buy – I would pick up not every piece, but just one or two pieces, and if I could smell that luscious peach smell, it was a buy! Oh, how I miss those days. Sigh.
Those days are gone, but not forgotten and I hope they’ll be back sometime soon. Now rolling to the check-out line, keeping a social distance, of course. I obediently follow the markers on the floor.
The checkers are right in there with health care workers, they deserve more than just a shout out, they deserve AWARDS for smiling – I think they’re smiling under the masks – and being so congenial as they do their job. Thank them when you go through to let them know how much they are appreciated.