Grocery Shopping

Hello! Next in a series of topics suggested by friends. This comes from Megan S – who probably knew it was a loaded subject given my current exploits with Binge Eating Disorder, but I love a great sense of humor so, here goes non-COVID-19…

Grocery Shopping

Grocery Shopping has all the ingredients for the blessedly perfect life that lives in my imagination.

I Adore Grocery Shopping.

I prefer going alone, at my own pace, oblivious to plans, lists, and rational choices. The Grocery Store is a magical place where I can forget about my basic flaws as a human being and just be normal. Like everyone else there. It’s perfectly acceptable to be surrounded by food and to acquire food and think about food. They practically encourage it.

First to greet me are fresh flowers…

… with a colorful vista of fruits and vegetables that I’ll never eat in the background. Talk about stacking the deck!

Next up is the bakery, the deli, and the meat counter, oh my. Olfactory and visual senses reeling, I plunge into the aisles. Just when my frustration at never being able to find the Boboli is about to peak, the Grocery Store Gods reel me back in with the coffee aisle followed by candy and greeting cards. They are so playing my roller coaster affections.

My route is always the same.

After candy, I skip ahead to the far land of dairy and toothpaste so that I can double back and end up in frozen foods where I smugly add pizza and yogurt bars knowing that I have a bundle of asparagus and 4 bananas tucked at the bottom of the cart.

The part between standing in the check out line and getting home is blech. But once my colorful, re-usable bags are on my kitchen table, the dance begins again. First tango is showing off the special treats I picked up for Ron and Trystan. After due admiration and delight are bestowed upon me, they are required to vacate my realm.

What goes into the downstairs pantry, upstairs pantry, refrigerator, and snack basket? But, most crucially, what goes on the kitchen table?

Like layering paint on a canvas, it’s time to mix and match.

THIS! This is the real reason that grocery shopping is magical. This is what I live for.

Big bowls, flower vases and tablecloths. Seasonal considerations? Of course! Those earthenware dishes and orange paisley tablecloth. The blue floral tablecloth, huge white bowl with flowers painted on the sides and the white ceramic pitcher for flowers. A neophyte would think that clear bowls go with everything but, no. It’s about the shape.

We’re (Royal We’re?) ready to craft the tablescape. Perfect tablecloth, bowls of bright fruit, vase of flowers I arrange myself, salt and pepper shakers (did I forget to mention those?) on the table. Shift a little this way and that. The large bowl behind the vase? No, to the left of the vase and the shorter bowl in front of that. Triangles, woman, triangles!

Then.

What?

Everything is perfect for a serene, soul-enriching 90 seconds. Maybe 3 minutes if I keep futzing with the table.

Then.

What?

 

I’m Susan Scot Fry, the author of “A Year of Significance”. In 2020, I take on the greatest nemesis of my life: Binge Eating Disorder. With a side of aplomb sauce. Honest, occasionally humorous and sometimes I swear.