I don’t think I’ve ever felt so alone as I did when I first went grocery shopping. It’s such a weird feeling. You grab a cart and start pushing it down the aisle wondering what it is that you need and what it is that you want. I just started walking around the entire store probably looking like I felt: clueless. “Yea sure, I need this 2 pound bag of coco puffs.” “I eat chips all the time, I should get these too.” “O geez, look at all these freakin vegetables. I don’t even know what to do with these. Oh! Chef Boyardee…”
One thing I’ve come to learn is that price is not always an indication of quality. I’m not complex or picky. There’s not going to be a huge difference between a $1 generic brand of canned corn and a $3 can. I love $2 Chuck wine. It’s super cheap and in my opinion, it tastes better than some more expensive wines that I’ve had. Doesn’t mean I skimp on everything though. I’m not going to buy twice recycled paper bag toilet paper. If it looks like it’s see-through, it probably feels like it’s see-through. My ass deserves better than that…
I don’t know if it’s a guy thing, but after I go grocery shopping, I feel like it’s only logical to bring in all the bags in one trip. I don’t care if it’s 2 or 20; I’m making one trip. Bags are banging my legs; my arms are straining. I’m not really walking as much as I am waddling. I don’t care, I’m not walking back to my car to get another batch of bags.
Over time, the grocery store isn’t as intimidating. You realize you don’t need to buy things just because they’re on sale. You realize vegetables are actually pretty good, and large bags of frozen chicken can go a long way. Pasta and rice are super cheap too. You figure out what you like and what you don’t like, and occasionally throw in something new. It’s a constant process of trial and error via taste and affordability.
I’ve realized picking friends are a lot like grocery shopping. There are things you always get, there are things that you get occasionally, and there are things you tried and will never get again. When I was younger, I wanted a lot of friends. Now that I’m a little older, I know I only need a few. I’m content with the friends that I have. I’m not saying that I’m not interested in being friendly to anyone or making new friends; I just know I don’t NEED any new ones. I’ve been blessed with the friends that I have and will try to make sure my groceries know how much I love them.
Thanks for reading, shoppers.
– Aisle 6
