Grocery day... there is a comfort in the regularity of certain things... the grocery on Sunday. And yet, today, no flowers. No time to ponder the contents of the order in front of me - although the couple in front of me did make a nice donation to breast cancer research as they checked out. They were also buying several cases of wine, and, in the end, I noticed they had several baguettes balanced in their cart as they wheeled away. A dinner party, clearly. I guess I just can't help but notice. But today... one of those irritating days where I end up bagging my own groceries.
Now, don't get me wrong. I actually enjoy the process of bagging groceries. There's an orderliness to it that's perfect. What bugs me is that the assumption that if there is no bagger there, you'll bag it yourself... and they never say thank you. It drives me totally crazy. And it's not like I go to a small neighborhood grocery. Actually, if I did, I'd probably never have to bag my groceries. I'd never have had to bag them while carrying a baby in a Bjorn. I'd never have had to bag them while dealing with a toddler in the cart.
Instead, I go to a large store of a major chain. I like the largeness. Excepting the pharmacy, there is wonderful anonymity in the largeness of the grocery. There is wonderful color... always so much individuality walking around in this particular grocery. Half of the people I pass are talking to someone on their cellphone with an earbud in place. A quarter of the people are with partners or roommates. Another eighth are listening to their ipods. I'm in the mix that makes up the final eighth, most likely.
There's a lot I like at the grocery... and at "this" grocery, and yet, today, what I really didn't want to do was bag my own groceries.
And then, at the end... they always ask... "Would you like help to your car?"
Amy,
I so agree with you about the privacy of the superstores. I guess it is just one more example of the stereotype of the coldness of the north eastern/mid atlantic culture. But I just don't want to develop a "relationship" with my local market (if I could find one in the Washington DC suburbs). It just seems like it would take too much effort.
susan
So funny... I totally get the privacy thing-- and sometimes I just don't want to TALK to anyone... LOL! And... I have this thing with the people helping me to my car... I ALWAYS say NO. No matter if I have an overflowing cart and a kid in tow, I always say no... there is something in me that screams **strong powerful woman, no I don't need you to take my cart out because _clearly_ I can do it myself!!!** I'm loving your grocery re-caps... :)))))))))))))
I live in a small town and half the time they don't have enough people to run the registers yet alone bag. But, this may seem really petty, but I don't "bag." Only because the first time I didn't, because I was distracted with my toddlers, the cashier moaned and groaned about having to do it. Since then, the cashiers are out-of-luck and on their own.