June 29, 2005

Supermarket Madness


So, people in Massachusetts shop like they drive (well...they do at the Market Basket). We went to do our routine grocery shopping yesterday and I (Kim) was seriously unnerved by all of the shopping carts flying past me. There was one point (at an apparently popular 3-way intersection connecting breakfast cereal, chips, and a donut spread) where, to get out of the chaos, I turned down an aisle (that I didn't need to go down) and was leisurely strolling through the oasis of solitude when suddenly this lady comes careening down the aisle behind me, zooms past me and cuts me off in order to avoid a little old lady pushing her cart down the other side. I was so shocked I just stood there (not the best of ideas since the other people who followed me down the aisle were not happy to be suddenly bottlenecked by me and the little old lady...thank God shopping carts don't have horns!). Then, a little bit later, I was waiting in line to look at the shredded cheese. I needed a bag of shredded monterey jack, that was all I needed. But someone else was in front of me, standing in the exact spot I needed to stand, so I was patiently waiting by the butter, pretending like I was despereately trying to decide between Land o Lakes or I Can't Believe It's not Butter (so that the person wouldn't feel rushed) when they finally moved on. I smiled and poised my hands on the cart, ready to push into their spot when out of no where this cart comes from behind and slides into the spot before I have a chance to move (Now I'm wishing there were a horn, a bell, something that would let them know of my displeasure!). And even though they seemed to be rushing through the store, carelessly cutting people off and taking their spots, they are suddenly completely relaxed and taking their time finding the perfect shredded cheese. I cannot tell you how many times that I was caught in a traffic jam, cut off, and given dirty looks for going to slow (I'm still adjusting to the layout of the store!!!). I was actually relieved to get out of the store and back on to the roads where, amazingly enough, the people are more civilized.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kim..i would die..i hate to grocery shop in the first place, thankfully Dan goes all winter for me but rude people and chaos...sounds like you miss Wal-Mart in Hills. haha...well it does take awhile to adjust to new grocery stores. I can relate. Hope everything else is going alright!! Love ya

Anonymous said...

Good grief, it sounds like you're living in another world :)

BTW, you already know what my blog is, so hopefully you can bookmark it or something, because I'd rather not post on your journal with that link.

Calah

Anonymous said...

that's why while I push, Allie sits in the cart and grabs stuff as we careen by - you and lucas should try it - it's so efficient!

Anonymous said...

I love to read your blog, lately they have given me a good chuckle. What a shopping experience that was. Better luck next time. You are going to have to be like everyone else or try your friends idea of Lucas pushing you and you grabbing food. Now that's a picture I won't get out of my head soon. Survial of the fittess that's the name of the game. Keep us posted on how the hunt for food is coming along. Love Ya

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
BillG said...

Never thought about how East coasters shop--when we were out west visiting my family I was amazed at a store called Trader Joe's--simply fantastic.

Best part about a supermarket?

Spending 10 minutes inside a freezer pretending to decide on an ice cream flavor, when really you're just trying to cool off after a game of Ultimate Frisbee. . .

Anonymous said...

Kim and Lucass,

Oh my goodness I miss you guys. Kim, your story was very well told. I can tell you were an English major.

Anyway, I get the impression that without Lucas, Roz, and myself in Admissions, things are d-e-a-d, dead. I'm not surprised, we were hilarious.

Hope to talk to you both soon!

ldmiller said...

Joel, you have a very smart idea. We'll have to try that next time.

Billy, I have a picture of Joel, Liv, myself and Muffin ine the frezzer at Camp Kimball after Ultimate Frisbee our Jr. Year. IT felt so good.

Katy, I understand that the humor has indeed been murdered and I heard Colleen is the number one suspect. Any news on this CSI investigation?

Anonymous said...

Market Basket is the worst! We have one in Somerville and no matter what time of day you go it is insanely busy and crowded (they do have cheaper prices than Shaws and Stop & Shop usually though). My friend really enjoys the fact that they have so many spills that they just throw sawdust down on top of them instead of stopping to clean them up (makes navigating a cart even more of a challenge). I did spend one random Friday night there though, a group of us picked out gifts worth a $1.00 or less that reminded us of the other person. We also tried such delicacies as Goya soda in Guava (tastes like the color pink) Pineapple (lovely cough syrup after taste) and Champagne cola (don't ask). So there are more adventures to be had at the good old Market Basket. Oh, and we have Trader Joe's here too, they can get pretty crazy as well but they do have a good selection of food!