One way this manifests is at the checkout lane at the grocery store. Self-checkout stations were made for introverts like me. But sometimes you have too many groceries to take through the self-check lane or sometimes the store just doesn't have one. Then you have to deal with people. Who talk. And apparently expect responses. I usually avoid eye contact in these situations but some clerks just don't take the hint. A simple "how are you today?" or "did you find everything you were looking for?" are expected questions and I can spare a one-word response. What really gets under my skin though are the questions like "what are you making?" or when clerks share their opinions about my purchases. I have been known to scowl and think "Its none of your business!" at the top of my mental lungs. Okay, maybe I said it out loud once. And maybe the clerk at my local Safeway never talked to me again. Maybe thats the way I like it. Just sayin'.... you know, maybe.
A couple of weeks ago I discovered Trader Joe's produce. As a bona-fide produce snob I normally only shop Whole Foods or New Seasons for my freggies but there is something to be said for pre-washed and packaged fruits and vegetables. No longer do you have to debate about how many carrots to buy or weigh your tomatoes. You don't have to stand in the aisle and think "should I grab one more?" or worse, wonder whether the produce police would slap your hand if you put a vegetable back on the shelf after bagging it.
Today I decided to double my fruit and vegetable prep for the week. I chop and freeze strawberries, blueberries and bananas for my morning oatmeal, chop and steam a mixture of vegetables, and steam and mash potatoes with cabbage and carrots to bake Bubble and Squeak Patties.
This was my TJ's haul:
Its not the best quality photo but it contains:
2 packages of yellow squash
2 packages of green beans
2 packages of shredded carrots
2 packages of shredded green cabbage
2 bags of multi-colored whole carrots
14 yellow potatoes and...
1 carton of strawberries
1 carton of blueberries
1 bunch of bananas
Total: $45
So as the TJ's clerk was unloading my cart to scan and bag, she makes a totally unexpected comment, "You got two of everything- its like the Noah's Ark of vegetables!" And even though I had forgotten my antidepressants yesterday and am a born introvert, I couldn't help it, a great big guffaw just welled up from my middle and exploded out of my mouth.
I spent the next couple of minutes while she finished scanning and bagging my freggies thinking how pleasant a change of pace this was. And then she finishes the job with "I see you found our produce section. Thats good."
#SarcasmSpokenHere
