This was a fun read, especially after a rough grocery trip yesterday with my three kids. I usually take them, but it is always a bit of a circus.
I’ve encountered the kindest people in the grocery store - once an older couple bagged my groceries while I held a screaming toddler, pushed my cart for me, and unloaded them into my van. It made me cry.
Loved this piece as I've always regarded grocery stores as laboratories in human behavior. I've had some fascinating conversations with both customers and employees in every department. Most were pleasant encounters, a few were not. The latter are ones where I had the poor judgment to offer an unsolicited, unwelcome comment. Here's an aisle, the number of which I don't remember:
.. think about the absurdity of a Canadian like myself.. with the same ‘scene & part of the culture’ - in an ‘imagined Open Carry Province of Canada eh - with a Browning .308 lever action rifle / shoulder slung ..
What would my ‘perceptions or fears be - my ‘decision points’ re ‘leave it in the pickup outta sight ? Is there a difference - guy with legit concealed weapon - Guy with ‘open carry revolver.. surveying the lettuce - guy with no need of a pistol / revolver ever - but that’s his saddle gun as well..
I love the Post btw.. deelightful ! Scrumptious !
It’s just the jarring reality .. ‘gun culture.. as if an Indian Uprising could be > might be imminent .. gangsters in Dodge Chargers with 50 mm - unruly housewives & derringers in their ankle holsters ?
PS .. Anne scored prime Swiss Chard .. & 5 flawless chicken breasts .. got home without bein confronted by those elderly matronly Greeks armed with carts they put their fold up ‘walkers in .. !
.. absolutely ! & it’s OK to ‘consider & measure such ‘messaging .. in my perspective..
begs the question.. though - what ‘messaging are you sending.. or drawing a line against ‘sending .. Is it your perception of ‘civility or trust ? It’s a Grocery Story.. but you’re Licensed & presumably Capable - Concealed Carry ..
i saddled Shamus upon 1st gunfire on our property.. it was hardly unexpected .. depended on ‘the season or not quite ‘in season - lefty draw Browning saddle gun - the 12 gauge over under was an option if there were four of them in our cornfields post combining
This with regard to astonishing vast flocks of Canadian Wild Geese less than three hours from crossing Lake Ontario into the US of A .. all a giddy & gobblin with a thousand ducks too what circled in for the feast .. (we had no wild turkey back then.. been already shot to death so t speak)
but Two poachers like these - deer huntin & the lever action half emerged as they stagger through the ditch .. their dogs far in the distance chasin a coon or sniffin the feral lost hunting dog pack.. sheeit .. this was real .. they Knew they were caught ‘Out Of Bounds’ .. & they were ARMED .. but Shamus & I ‘controlled the narrative .. & they ‘didn’t expect us ..
Now would I bring that ‘military level RIFLE .. never mind the rancid attitude horse - off the property or perimeters ?
But a Military Level Revolver .. same destructive power - some would seem partial too .. whilst buyin a peach pie.. or 2 dozen oysters or even a sack of sweet corn .. a case of Ensure .. or even attending an auction sale ..
OMGosh, I laughed so hard at the picture you painted of you leaning over the little old ladies and ooooppppss… you probably have them the thrill of their week 😂 handsome young whippersnapper that you are!
Carrying an aaaahhhhoooooggaahh horn sounds like a winner possibility, but I’ve also found the ubiquitous sharp sounding “beep. Beep. Beep.” Back up noise that every delivery van makes works wonders to get them moving. I just begin making that noise when the aisle hogs are in their feeding frenzy, and they quickly get embarrassed at ME being embarrassing. (Which I’m not) so it works well 🤗😜 I think they move just to get me to stop. 🤭
OMG I love that Teyani. 😂 I use that back-up beeping noise when the dogs are trying back out of a tight spot between the couch and the coffee table. It’s hilarious.
The aisle hogs—why couldn’t I think of that. Oink 🐷
So many chuckles reading this essay. I love that you take an everyday activity and shine the full light of humanity and even included a fantasy at the very end!
I enjoyed this thoroughly! I've often thought about writing about my local grocery store as it is tiny, we live in a town of 2500, and you literally can't go there without seeing someone you know...and I have to go a lot. Anyway, I think grocery trips are a big deal for everyone so all can relate - thank you!
This was a fun read, especially after a rough grocery trip yesterday with my three kids. I usually take them, but it is always a bit of a circus.
I’ve encountered the kindest people in the grocery store - once an older couple bagged my groceries while I held a screaming toddler, pushed my cart for me, and unloaded them into my van. It made me cry.
Thank you Kate for sharing. I’m so happy you had that experience. I’ve done that exact thing for an overworked mother 🙏
Loved this piece as I've always regarded grocery stores as laboratories in human behavior. I've had some fascinating conversations with both customers and employees in every department. Most were pleasant encounters, a few were not. The latter are ones where I had the poor judgment to offer an unsolicited, unwelcome comment. Here's an aisle, the number of which I don't remember:
https://garygruber.substack.com/p/the-cereal-aisle
Thanks Gary!
Ahooogah!
☺️
.. what happens to this idyllic American scenario - if there’s no ‘guns in play.. Dee ?
I assume you ‘wrote it in.. for ‘reasons .. normalcy.. part of the scene.. the culture ?
.. 🦎🏴☠️🎬
It is part of the scene and part of the culture—there ain’t no denying it. 🤷🏻♂️
.. think about the absurdity of a Canadian like myself.. with the same ‘scene & part of the culture’ - in an ‘imagined Open Carry Province of Canada eh - with a Browning .308 lever action rifle / shoulder slung ..
What would my ‘perceptions or fears be - my ‘decision points’ re ‘leave it in the pickup outta sight ? Is there a difference - guy with legit concealed weapon - Guy with ‘open carry revolver.. surveying the lettuce - guy with no need of a pistol / revolver ever - but that’s his saddle gun as well..
I love the Post btw.. deelightful ! Scrumptious !
It’s just the jarring reality .. ‘gun culture.. as if an Indian Uprising could be > might be imminent .. gangsters in Dodge Chargers with 50 mm - unruly housewives & derringers in their ankle holsters ?
PS .. Anne scored prime Swiss Chard .. & 5 flawless chicken breasts .. got home without bein confronted by those elderly matronly Greeks armed with carts they put their fold up ‘walkers in .. !
The Browning 308 over the shoulder might send a bit different message 😂 just sayin’
.. absolutely ! & it’s OK to ‘consider & measure such ‘messaging .. in my perspective..
begs the question.. though - what ‘messaging are you sending.. or drawing a line against ‘sending .. Is it your perception of ‘civility or trust ? It’s a Grocery Story.. but you’re Licensed & presumably Capable - Concealed Carry ..
The gun itself - is ‘The Message ..
& the one with the gun - a ‘loaded messenger ..
Truth Thomas. My messages are always loaded.☺️
i saddled Shamus upon 1st gunfire on our property.. it was hardly unexpected .. depended on ‘the season or not quite ‘in season - lefty draw Browning saddle gun - the 12 gauge over under was an option if there were four of them in our cornfields post combining
This with regard to astonishing vast flocks of Canadian Wild Geese less than three hours from crossing Lake Ontario into the US of A .. all a giddy & gobblin with a thousand ducks too what circled in for the feast .. (we had no wild turkey back then.. been already shot to death so t speak)
but Two poachers like these - deer huntin & the lever action half emerged as they stagger through the ditch .. their dogs far in the distance chasin a coon or sniffin the feral lost hunting dog pack.. sheeit .. this was real .. they Knew they were caught ‘Out Of Bounds’ .. & they were ARMED .. but Shamus & I ‘controlled the narrative .. & they ‘didn’t expect us ..
Now would I bring that ‘military level RIFLE .. never mind the rancid attitude horse - off the property or perimeters ?
But a Military Level Revolver .. same destructive power - some would seem partial too .. whilst buyin a peach pie.. or 2 dozen oysters or even a sack of sweet corn .. a case of Ensure .. or even attending an auction sale ..
lordy me.. what a ‘fearful commotion .. 🦎🏴☠️
"How did the grocery store run go, honey?"
"Great! I didn't get shot!"
Always a bonus ☺️
I need to find a more interesting grocery store. This was so good, Dee!
Thank you Priya. Real life is so interesting 🤨
OMGosh, I laughed so hard at the picture you painted of you leaning over the little old ladies and ooooppppss… you probably have them the thrill of their week 😂 handsome young whippersnapper that you are!
Carrying an aaaahhhhoooooggaahh horn sounds like a winner possibility, but I’ve also found the ubiquitous sharp sounding “beep. Beep. Beep.” Back up noise that every delivery van makes works wonders to get them moving. I just begin making that noise when the aisle hogs are in their feeding frenzy, and they quickly get embarrassed at ME being embarrassing. (Which I’m not) so it works well 🤗😜 I think they move just to get me to stop. 🤭
OMG I love that Teyani. 😂 I use that back-up beeping noise when the dogs are trying back out of a tight spot between the couch and the coffee table. It’s hilarious.
The aisle hogs—why couldn’t I think of that. Oink 🐷
I use it with my cat Jose when he’s in the way. And he knows what it means!
So many chuckles reading this essay. I love that you take an everyday activity and shine the full light of humanity and even included a fantasy at the very end!
Thank you Donna! I guess it is rather a fantasy, eh? ☺️
I think it does happen like that every once in a while. And we must keep the dream alive!
🙏☺️
I enjoyed this thoroughly! I've often thought about writing about my local grocery store as it is tiny, we live in a town of 2500, and you literally can't go there without seeing someone you know...and I have to go a lot. Anyway, I think grocery trips are a big deal for everyone so all can relate - thank you!
It can be the hub of so much fun and humor—and angst too! Thank you for reading Susie
omg I'm laughing til I'm crying... this is perfect. And yeah, great title.
Thanks Debbie. I’ve actually been to the Isle of Man off the coast of Ireland for the TT motorcycle races—and it’s got some similarities 😂
Thanks for reading Drew. I do the same thing—those darned old people 🙄☺️
There’s always a song in my heart ❤️