Shopping in the Time of Covid

I can't honestly say I've ever enjoyed grocery shopping. But it's a task that must be done, and since I'm the head chef at the Casa de Ginley, it only makes sense that I'm the official gatherer.

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Of course, this task has been complicated by the raging pandemic. You know, the one we hear about daily but have grown numb to.

So, like my fellow shoppers, I don my mask and (mostly) follow the directional arrows at my local supermarket.

The social distancing thing is quite a dance though, isn't it? You're waiting for your turn at the banana bin, dodging the stockers and fellow shoppers. Turning your head away and mumbling "sorry" as you reach for the fruit you hope will be the right shade of yellow/green. Then bobbing away, moving along.

The deli counter is problematic. The workers are positioned far enough away they can't hear you place your order. So you will find yourself shouting, "A QUARTER POUND OF ROAST BEEF, SHAVED." And once again, "ROAST BEEF."  And "QUARTER." And "SHAVED."

Then you will reach across the abyss and snag your meat baggie and toss it into your cart.

The aisles are clearly marked so you know which way to go. But, yes, I admit I'm guilty of sneaking the wrong way down the aisle to grab something that's only a few steps in. (While still properly social distancing, naturally.)

Pre-Covid, one of the things I always marveled at was the voluminous variety of brands and types of food. During the pandemic, this has changed. One can no longer be fussy about brands. You get the beans or the cheese or the toilet paper they have in stock that week. 

Speaking of TP, I still haven't figured out why things like bathroom tissue and Lysol are flying off the shelves. Are people using their toilets more during the pandemic? Maybe it's because they are eating off-brand beans?

Who knows.

Someday, soon I hope, things will return to normal and all of this will just be an unpleasant memory.

And once again we will be able to shop in pairs, sans masks, and dart willy-nilly down the aisles of our local supermarket without fear of infection.

That'll be the day.