The simple task of shopping for groceries really isn’t as simple as one may think. There are hazards and obstacles galore when you venture into a supermarket.

When I head for the veggie aisles, I totally detest those thin plastic-like, compostable veggie bags that comes off a roller. How the heck do you open the darn things when squinching it doesn’t work and rubbing it with thumb and finger doesn’t do anything. And, the other indignity is having the bags set high above your head so there’s a really good stretch to reach it. But I must admit it did feel good when another shorter lady asked me to get her one too. Don’t even ask how to grab a twist tie to secure the darn bag if and when you get it ’cause they’re up high too–beside the veggie bags. I finally figured it out. Just check the fresh leafy greens that gets their misty drenching AND THEN open the bag. Wet fingers,–without ee-ew–sticking it in your mouth,— works every time. As for the twist ties, if you’re able to grab one, grab a handful!

I find people are  very nice and very helpful when an item is out of reach. Taller men and taller women are very obliging. If you’re lucky enough to find a shelf-stocker, they are helpful and very polite. But, there are exceptions.

I can only think Mr. Grumpy was having a bad morning. I think his frowning over his ordering list and checking off what needed to be filled was too much without his morning coffee. I can relate to that. When I politely asked if he could reach for an item for me, he was annoyed and didn’t want to be helpful, but he reluctantly followed me to the freezer section.

“Where?” he briskly demanded.

“There,” I pointed, but nervously pointing at the wrong item.

“Here,” he thrust it at me.

“I’m sorry, it was the item two over,” I apologized. Scowling at me, he threw the offending item back in its corner, grabbed the right package tossing it into my cart and then stalking back to his frustrating task. I can only hope his caffeine break was coming very soon.

A few aisles over, I was searching for the coffee filters that use to be on the bottom shelf. I guess there must have been a “make-work” day as the coffee filters were now on the top shelf. Someone had taken the first 6 packages at the front leaving a stack of them at the back of the shelf. I didn’t see anyone who could reach for them so I contemplated Option#2.  I stepped on the bottom shelf and reached up to the top. Nope, still too short. Option#3 would be to climb the second shelf but that made me hesitate because even climbing onto the second step of a step-ladder gave me visions of falling flat on my back, knocking myself unconscious and having strangers gathering around to determine if I was dead.  Darn. . .I went searching for someone to help me. I finally found another shelf stocker who was extremely helpful. He reached up for 2 packages of coffee filters and asked what else was on my list in case they were on another high shelf. Thank goodness, they weren’t.

With a huge sigh of relief, I zipped down another aisle, heading for the cashiers. Unfortunately, a mini-munchkin was zipping along with his “shopper-in-training” mini-cart coming in the opposite direction.  My surprised shriek and his equally surprised yell of “Look out, Lady!” made us each swerve at the last second. He hit the display of paper towels that bombarded the aisle behind me.  I kept on going.

Hubby merely lifted an eyebrow when I eventually got home. I must have looked frazzled, holding my huge “go-cup” of caffeine.

“Grocery shopping, right?”