We've been asked to change many of our behaviors, from handwashing, to being physically close to people, to not touching surfaces.
We've been asked to get used to many shortages.
It isn't just food. Shortages people have talked with me about recently include (or I've experienced) include:
Air conditioners
Freezers
Disinfectant Wipes
Liquid soap
Above ground pools
New cars (according to a local car dealer, these shortages are coming sooner than later).
Patience
Sometimes, kindness.
Thousands and thousands still wait for unemployment checks. Or wait to be called back (hopefully) to work.
And then, other times: signs of hope.
Elective surgeries are in full swing where I live.
Hair salons are open (although I haven't gone yet).
One local library is reopening (to go inside) on June 29, with strict rules and limits. (Does this mean I'll lose my virtual access to the New York City public library soon? Right now if you don't live in the City you can still get a virtual card, if you live in NY State.)
Our local supermarket, on Saturday, was once again allowing self serve of single donuts, cookies, and bagels. (The last time I saw that was in mid-March).
But there are things that just aren't in our nature and we have to be reminded not to do.
How many of us are physical shoppers who must touch everything before purchase? How many of us are secret fruit tasters? I'm not, but, obviously, many of us are.
Because, the other day, I saw this sign in the supermarket:
No taste testing the cherries in the store!
(In all fairness, they don't want you to taste-test the grapes, either.)
Admit it. I won't judge. Is this you?
...I haven't been in a Wegmans store in years!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely hate it when I see someone taste-testing the fruit. I've actually told people off in the store. People are no better than animals sometimes. Just my opinion, of course.
ReplyDeleteWow. Can't imagine tasting fruit these days, but understand the desire. It is a whole new world. In CT, virus cases are going up on the heels of many things reopening. Scary.
ReplyDeleteYou have no idea how lucky you are to have leadership in your state, you're reopening with a plan and can feel secure about it. There's even more reason here not to touch anything and to try to be kind and patient. Tasting fruit? In a store? Now? Just how absurd can we get?
ReplyDeleteI only taste test when invited, like at the farmers market where they were enticing us to buy. Never in a supermarket.
ReplyDeleteIn many chain stores (I know Safeway does) you can ask an employee to taste test anything. They once wanted to open a jar and I didn't let them! I have never done it, and wasn't raised by parents who did it, ever. I see people do it now and again, and I understand they want to see if the fruits good. But, just ask, they'll let you.
ReplyDeleteWhat bothers me more is the stores with bins, pre-Corvid 19 of course, they aren't "open" to the shopping public right now. "NO SAMPLING" and "ASK TO TEST" signs, yet people dispense a handful to give their whiny children to snack on! Some day I'm going to snap! Sometimes it's expensive stuff!
My son does our shopping still, and he won't even buy the bakery bread in those open bags. So, I'm sure he wouldn't get us any single donuts or bagels!
I have seen a sign like that.
ReplyDeleteIt was me, but no longer. Yuck.
ReplyDelete