The Kindness of Strangers

Continuing my fascination with corn rows. This one makes me dizzy if I look at it too long.

I was in desperate need of dog, cat and chicken food, (well, not me really, the dogs, cats and chickens were!) so yesterday Mom and I ventured off the farm and went to the bigger town about 20 miles away. We managed ok at Fleet Farm, until we tried to leave. Pouring down rain. So I just parked our trolley of already paid for stuff by the door, and we walked around a little. We happened by the umbrellas, and it seemed prudent to go ahead and buy one to keep in the truck for just this type of occurence. The rain had let up a bit anyway, and Mom was in a raincoat, so we managed to get into the truck fine.

This is where we just should have gone back home. I hate to make the trip and only go to one place, and I did need a few things from the grocery store. Ever since I discovered the store delivers, I usually order on-line and let them make the trek to the farm. We were right there, and sometimes I can't find what I want on-line, even though I know they have it, so I decided to go ahead and do some grocery shopping.

We actually did pretty good, until we hit the meat department. They have a meat counter along the back, and Mom and I were standing with our backs to it, looking in a long freezer bank. Mom was two steps away from me. This is where everything went into slow motion. The meat counter guy was in front of the counter, and had the three of the display windows up. They're hinged at the top, like the hatchback of a car, you know? I don't know what he was doing exactly, but Mom made a beeline for the display. She managed to touch a fancy, dolled-up chicken breast before I could stop her. Crap! I saw the price and felt a little ill. Meat counter guy was oblivious to the whole thing, but I told him she had touched one, so I guess we'll buy it, and pointed out which one she had touched. I told him to go ahead and give me another one, so at least I could make a meal for both of us. In the meantime, the display windows are still up, and it's all I can do just to keep Mom from going after the filet mignon etc and move her away from the meat counter. He came back around and put the now wrapped up chicken breast in our cart for me. I finally manage to get Mom away from there, and we continue on our way through the store. As I am putting everything on the conveyor belt at the check-out lane, I note the price of the fancy chicken breast. Let's just say that it was heavily(!!!) discounted. Aw, thanks meat counter guy!

Now we just have to get out of the store. They have a #@%@#^$(&* revolving door that I swear will be the death of me yet. When I feel it is safe to go in, we venture forth. As we are about half way in the door part, the apples fell off the back of the cart. I can't back out of the door, because the bag of apples is there. Mom is standing in the door part, and the revolving door is coming up behind her! I yelp, but the door stops just before it hits her. In the meantime, there is an older man wanting to go out of the store too. He helps me pick up the apples and get Mom to a safer position. He murmurs, "Memory issues?" I say "Yes," and he helps me with the umbrella and Mom and the cart all the way to the truck.

I sure do appreciate grocery delivery, but it is nice to be reminded of the kindness of strangers too.