I have never been a fan of grocery shopping. In fact, I usually put it off until my family is asking me, did you happen to go to the store yet? When they are well aware that I haven’t.
Generally, I shop once a month for a big shopping trip, and every 10-12 days run out for fresh veggies, milk, eggs, and bread. That is the way I have been for years.
Four weeks ago, when quarantine practice started, I had just gone to the store. Today I had to go. I had been putting it off for a couple of days, but I knew that today was the day. Can I just tell you how anxious I was about going?
I am a bit higher risk because of an autoimmune disorder, and asthma. I also need to be careful because I go to my parents’ house every night to help get my father ready for bed as he’s on hospice and mom can’t do it alone anymore. Needless to say, I am very careful about exposure, and have remained home. Not that it’s hard for me to stay home, I have been working from home for the last 3 years.
So this morning, I was up early. I made sure to take my decongestant immediately when I got up. I have horrible allergies and spend a couple hours every morning coughing it away as my sinus settle. I didn’t want everyone to freak out if I coughed at the store. One cup of coffee, and I was out the door.
7:00 a.m. they let the general public in. I had on my mask, and I also wore gloves. They say that you don’t need to wear gloves, but I have a very severe allergy to Latex – so if someone who HAS been wearing latex gloves, touches something that I then touch – I can react to it – it’s a major pain in the (you know what!). Hence the reason I wore NITRILE gloves.
Another reason they tell people not to wear gloves is they don’t understand that if you touch something with your gloves on – they are instantly contaminated and give you a false sense of protection. My years as a cop doing evidence work and also being around blood and body fluids helped teach me the proper way to wear gloves.
When I arrived a nice young may wiped down my cart for me as I waited patiently and chatted with him from my safe distance of 6′, and then inside I went.
It’s a maze in there. I mean seriously, it was a maze, but they were nice enough to give you arrows so that you know the correct direction to follow. I found it rather humorous to see everyone staring at the floor as they went to make sure they were going in the right direction, and once, a man was going in the wrong direction and a woman growled at him. Not sure what she said, but he frowned, you could see the low eyebrows over the bandana covering his face and he quickly turned and went in the “correct” direction.
Shopping was rather easy, and I was lucky that just about everything I needed was available. Of course, the holier-than-thou toilet paper aisle was empty, and the cleaners section was pretty sparse. Pasta and rice were low, and clothing detergent was almost gone.
What I really want to know is how were people cleaning their back sides, and clothing before? I mean seriously!
I did do my own checkout and walked out of there with a cart full of groceries. Satisfied that I will be able to feed my family for another month.
Hand sanitizer up to my elbows before I get in my car, (which has been inside the pocket of my track pants), checked my phone because I had left it in the car. No reason to get it contaminated. I had only brought my credit card into the store to pay. That got wiped down with sanitizer too.
Back home, everything was brought in and either put in the fridge/freezer or stacked on a shelf to sit there for two days before it gets put away. I showered and then I sanitized the counters – the handles of cabinets, doors, gates and then the inside of my car.
Almost three hours later, I finally got to pour myself a second cup of coffee, and I could feel the anxiety draining from my shoulders. All in all, it wasn’t horrible, but I hate that this is our new “norm”, and it looks to stay that way for a while.
With that said, if you can stay home – stay home. Play games, watch every movie you ever dreamed of watching, read – listen to audio books and spend time with family!
I hope you all remain safe and healthy!
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Stacy Eaton is a USA Today Best Selling author and began her writing career in October of 2010. Stacy took an early retirement from law enforcement after over fifteen years of service in 2016, with her last three years in investigations and crime scene investigation to write full time.
Stacy is very involved in Domestic Violence Awareness and served on the Board of Directors for her local Domestic Violence Center for three years.
Thanks for sharing your experience. It is quite different to grocery shop now and this post is a way capturing how a mundane errand has become rife with anxiety and precautions. Stay healthy and safe.
That is exactly the reason I wrote it!! Thanks for stopping by!
Ugh, I hated food shopping as it was before the virus, just like you – actually, Joe did all the food shopping for years, and starting to fend for myself last year was difficult, but not like this! Thankfully, I have a local market that delivers – thank you for sharing your experiences. xoxo
I’m so glad you do have delivery! I am set up for a delivery in two weeks for those veggies and fruits. Stay safe my friend!
I am obviously the exception to this rule: I am a man who enjoys shopping!
I worked at sea for many years and shopping was a necessity and a novelty when we reached a port. Now long retired, my wife and I quarantine ourselves for protection but go short of luxuries to make the load lighter for a friend who shops for us. It isn’t fair to risk their lives for us. A cargo ship may be a safer place at the moment!
Martin-I used to enjoy shopping – but now – I’d rather be writing. My son is out at sea right now – He’s in the Navy – they were supposed to be back a month ago – but are keeping them out to keep them safe. Food and other supplies are low, and they all worry about their families. Stay safe and thanks for stopping by!