My Grocery Store Dilemma, Part 2
Hello Substack! My first post!!
My Grocery Store Dilemma, Part 2
This time, I made it to the checkout, barely. Little did I know, though, my struggles were about to begin. Surely, the employee who was helping, was thinking something must be wrong me. If only he knew.
Let me retrace my steps, and start from the beginning, when I had the "household" grocery list in one hand and the "recipe" grocery list in the other hand. Dealing with my grocery store dilemmas, or GSDs I like to say, is quite a process; a process leaving me with a nerve-wracking, hair-pulling, just-bury-me-under-a-rock type attitude. However, up until now, I think I've finally figured it out- that is, the answer to my GSD.
Marching through the store, this time, as if I knew what I was doing, I headed to the back of the building, the freezer aisle- a new tactic to ease the burdens of my GSD (remember?). This way, I'm not walking aimlessly through all the aisles thinking, "Why am I here? That looks appetizing" and grabbing the item I do not need. By starting in the back of the building, my brain is not overwhelmed with the many choices/selections ahead of me, bombarding me with questions that may, or may not, be relevant to my GSD.
I believe I'm off to a great start, that is, with my new tactic of.... well, I have a tactic...(we'll see how it fairs).
My new tactic is the addition of not one, but two lists, which may either help my GSD or create a hinderance. I soon realize that my addition of the "recipe" list along with the "household" list is slowing me down.
I'm walking down the milk aisle. Yes, the milk aisle again, which is where all my troubles began one year ago, but let’s not go there.
I need milk for the "household" and eggs for the "recipe." I'm struck with the realization that we have eggs at home. We usually buy eggs from a corner store because they are cheaper. Although, the eggs here at the grocery store come in larger quantities and are on sale. "Hmmm.....?"
While I have a mental debate over which store is yielding/offering the better price, I pick the carton on my right. Not because it's the better price. Rather, I fail to distinguish the better price...but, because everything in my cart costs $5, I figure it makes sense to get the one that costs $5.
Moreover, because I'm right handed, and right is usually my lucky-side, I figure I can't go wrong with choosing the eggs on my dominant side. In addition, the eggs on my dominant side contain more eggs. So, the price comparison just makes sense that the carton containing the most eggs costs more money. Ok, moving on...
I do a quick scan of both lists so I can get out of this place (the grocery store) soon. Although, the cheese is in this aisle too. I'm pretty sure we don't need cheese but with all the colorful price-tags, I'm pretty sure the cheese is on sale. I decide I better get some.
Again, I do a quick scan of both lists and realize tater tots would be in this aisle. They're not on the list but the kids would like them. I walk up and down the cold-storage aisle three times while thinking, "Surely, they can not be located elsewhere. I must have missed them." I walked down the aisle again (my fourth time), very slowly. An employee with a red shirt is seen halfway down the aisle and I think, "Perfect. Just who I need." After asking where the tator tots are, she points and says, "Right behind you." Dumbfounded, I roll my eyes at the stupidity of the situation and conclude I've been here too long.
Assuring myself I have funds to pay for such luxary items (because grocery items are expensive these days), I head to the checkout. Stopping along the way to check my online bank account to pay for such fiasco, I also wonder when I will have to complete such ardous task again.
But my GSD experience is far-from-over. As I'm unloading my items onto the self-checkout register, I see the hat on display on an end-cap that my daughter wants for Christmas. "Wait. Cancel everything. I'm getting that hat." I pick up my stuff and haul to the display. "Wait, was it this hat or that hat?" I grab the one I think she wants and head back to self-checkout. "No, I better get the other one." Retracing my steps to replace the hat, I grab the correct one and head to my checkout spot.
"Ok. I'm ready." I successfully follow the prompts but confusion displays on my face when the screen asks for Member Identification. "Really?" I don't need to describe the, yet again, ardous task of having to get an employee's help to clear this situation. However, I'll just say that I was glad I made it home that day.
The GSD experience continues inside my kitchen. Want to hear more?
Unloading the groceries from the counter-top to their respective places in the kitchen sounds like an easy task to complete, especially compared to this recent GSD experience, or rather, expedition, as is my case. However, when transferring the bag of pretzels to their desired location in the cupboard, and the entire contents fall out the bottom covering the countertop and floor, I think my day can't get any better.
This is the moment when I realize I have to make time for myself, rather than all the urchins (pets included) in my household.
Time for yourself, or rather myself, does not mean time at the library, gym or mall. Rather, time for yourself means time to sleep, to rest, to refuel, to refocus, to re-energize. It's the moments of silence, stillness, and sereness; where real growth occurs. The stimulation needed (or not), the synapses, the rewiring of your brain…. to heal, to mend, to recover, to get through, make recovery possible. Listen to your body, listen to your mind and you will follow the path of your soul.
Authors Note: Sarah suffered a serious Traumatic Brain Injury at the age of 15 after getting into a car with a drunken driver. She has shared her experiences with schools/organizations around the nation and in her book, You’re Getting Better Every Day. Now a wife and mom of two, she created the blog www.usandmom.wordpress.com where she shares her experiences of motherhood. Follow her struggles and support her adventure of writing on her new website www.usandmom.substack.com. Her writings have been published in Hope and ADDitude magazine.