Grocery Shopping

 Hello Sunday.

I was at my favorite store, Wegmans, doing my grocery shopping. 

I know enough to not go to the grocery store on Saturday, but I went anyway.

Note to self.  DO NOT DO THAT AGAIN, STUPID. 

The wine aisle was impossible to peruse, so I didn't, damn it.

For someone who always feels it's a bit too peopley out there, this was a lesson in patience and in holding my thoughts inside.  Also, not running over children who were not being supervised or parents who stopped to talk on their phone mid-aisle.

She was saying, " Oh, he was cute, but too many red flags.

I wanted to scream, move to the left or right or get off the freakin' phone.

How did people shop before they had a phone in their hand?

I get the husbands who are talking on the phone in any given aisle: "Honey, I don't see it. No, there are no red cans....
How many times have you seen or heard that? That makes me giggle.

But personal calls can wait, can't they?

Sorry, went off there.

I was in the gluten-free aisle looking for things as one does. 

This couple who appeared to be about my age were going back and forth about a brand of bread they were holding. They were struggling. Think it's good? Worth the price? Should we try it?  That type of thing.

I took a chance: "Not that you asked, but that's pretty good bread. I am not a big fan of sourdough, but it's good. Their deli bread is like a light rye. Great for Reubens and Ruben casserole. Stay away from anything UDI.  Terrible.

This guy asked if he could go home with me.

Ha! 

I asked if being gf was new to them. Yes, indeed it was. It showed. 

He said, "It's so overwhelming, but being sick sucks too.  

I nodded because I certainly understood. I told him it does get easier. But it always will be a pain in the butt.  He laughed and said I see that. 

Feeling good is the reward, so there is that I shared; hang in there.

Then I asked, "Have either of you seen rice paper? I did not see it in the Asian aisle. The gentleman asked me to repeat what I was looking for. 

I repeated, "rice paper"

He made a hand gesture as if he were rolling a joint.  

I had a hearty laugh in Aisle 17a.

No, sir, not rolling papers, rice paper to make egg rolls. They look just like egg roll wrappers, only clear. 

His wife jumped in and asked, "You can do that?"  She was now excited.  

I told her I sure hope so.  I make a mean egg roll but can't eat those pesky wrappers, so I saw where someone made them with rice paper, and it worked. My tip to you is--Just remember soy sauce is gluten - use Tamari instead. He said, "dear lord, soy sauce is gluten too?" He made such a face I wanted to laugh. But not at him, only because I've been him. It sucks to find out that you can't have malt vinegar on your fries or soy sauce or ever go to a Chinese restaurant again.

The gentleman now put what he was holding in his cart, grabbed my elbow, turned me a bit, said goodbye to his wife, "I'm going home with her; she has this gluten thing down, and I won't starve."  LOL

Omg, people are funny. I saw them later in the ice cream aisle, and I smiled.

I saw him coming towards me, and I feared what was coming next.

He asked me where I was from. Whew, better than I imagined; I thought I might get some Yankee bullshit coming my way.

I responded, "My accent gave me away, did it?"  

He replied with a resounding, "NO, your friendliness"

Ah, thank you. They thanked me again, and off they went.

See, I'm not the only one who sees how unfriendly it is here. 

Southern hospitality, my ass. 

It's always a good day at Wegman's!!