Shopping....

I’ve shopped alone for so long, that the thought of shopping with someone else is a bit intimidating….

When I go to the store alone – it’s just…ME. And it’s so easy to go shopping alone: I don’t have to put makeup on. I don’t have to hold my stomach in, or shave my legs. I can just…go to the store! And once there, I can go down any aisle I want: quick, slow – heck, I can even go down the same aisle three times, and who’s there to care? Ya’ know, I’ve even found myself at the store and changed my mind, deciding that I’d rather take a nap instead…

So imagine my surprise (momentary shock and terror) at finding myself at the store….in tandem:

“Oh crap!” I fret, “What is he doing? Oh…I think I know – I remember this! He’s pushing my cart! WhatdoIdowhatdoIdo? Should I pretend I don’t know he’s pushing the cart? Oh! Maybe I should I hold on to the cart—yes, that’s it! I’ll just place my hand next to his – then I’ll know what to d-

Whoa! What aisle is this!?!?!? Fruits and Vegetables? Nice….but I’m really not that crazy about

“Cantalopes!”

“What’s that?” he inquired, pausing the cart and perusing some melons.

“Nothing,” I reply, “I just forgot about the cantaloupes. Those are nice. I forgot how nice they are…”

After careful consideration, said fruit is placed carefully in the cart, and--

And we’re off again! The breakneck pace is exhilarating, even though I’m afraid I’m going to crash into the bread. Or the cookies. Gawd, I worry, what if I crush the cookie?

“Did you just say, ‘Cookies?’” he asked, “I love cookies.”

So…a few cookies later…

Oh heck, a few cookies and aisles later, I was riding in the basket – arms and feet dangling over the side, dazed and confused, but thoroughly enjoying the whirlwind swirling around me. I think I remember talking to a tall dwarf…or maybe it was a clown? Either way, he was very pleasant to talk to. We had a couple of conversations.

I had forgotten how much fun shopping with someone else was! I rediscovered parts of the store that I’ve avoided for a long time. Yes, yes, as usual, there were items I would have loved to have gotten at the store, things I meant to get and forgot (but got something else instead), and there were some aisles we didn’t go down. But, allinall, it was a fabulous excursion. I look forward to my next shopping trip.