SOL14: Coronavirus Update, Part 4

Yesterday I said I would sit out this pandemic and took up my former student’s offer to shop for me. Then, this morning, a good friend called and asked to have lunch. She lives in the neighborhood, so I would only have to walk a few blocks to a restaurant that is never crowded (though the food is good). I said yes.

            We spent an hour talking about the coronavirus and what we believed and didn’t believe. She’s been much less cautious about it than I have, riding the subway, meeting people. In fact, her lunch date for today with two other friends had canceled on her. I had slept pretty well and think what I feel is just the common cold.

            After lunch, I went grocery shopping—and spent $84 on what is mostly staples. I’d been in California last month, so my refrigerator had been almost emptied, and I hadn’t gotten around to replenishing staples. So...

2 boxes Nature’s Path Heritage Flakes

a dozen eggs

1 liter olive oil

1 liter 2% yogurt

2 small containers of coffee yogurt

half-pound of goat gouda

1-pound box penne

half-pound butter  (into the freezer)

1½ cups milk (I wanted buttermilk, but there was none

1 pint blueberries

1 pint grape tomatoes

5 bananas

a fennel bulb

10 ounces mushrooms

1 pound of salmon

            I would not have felt comfortable asking my former student to buy all of this. I wore gloves throughout and while putting away the food once I was home. I’m still staying away from the subway.

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I’m participating in the 13th annual Slice of Life Challenge over at Two Writing Teachers. This is day 14 of the 31-day challenge.  It’s not too late to make space for daily writing in a community that is encouraging, enthusiastic, and eager to read what you have to slice about.  Join in!

SOLSC 13: Prep Work

            I had an errand that took me all the way downtown this afternoon and then the Post Office. When I came home, I intended to immediately go back out and restock my refrigerator, which I’d emptied out before my travels.

            Once I sat down, though, fatigue took over, and I lay down for a nap. An hour later, I got up, made a shopping list, and went to the store. Where, at the entrance, I was directed to the “very short wait, short line.”

            There is a blizzard forecast, with snow starting around midnight and continuing all day. So maybe people are panicking just a bit? The line was not so short. I waited 10 minutes. Some people passing by said, “This is crazy!” A woman who said she lived above the store and shopped sometimes twice a day: “This is hysterical,” she said.

            Once I got in, there was no problem. The store was still well-stocked. I didn’t have long to wait to pay, and since I was paying cash, I wasn’t affected by the computers processing credit and debit cards going down briefly.

            Bring on the blizzard.