Monday, June 25, 2012

Adventures in Grocery Shopping

When I was a kid, there were two grocery stores in town. Those on a tight budget shopped at one, those with a little more money to spare shopped at the other. In the 1960's and 70's, Moms roamed aisle by aisle, once a week, and picked up everything they needed in one fell swoop: fruits, vegetables, bread, dairy items, meats, and canned goods were all in one place. Even those families (like mine) with more than five kids didn't really vary from this routine--although in my household, Dad did the food shopping every Friday night (it was a big deal if I got to go with him and still be home in time to catch The Brady Bunch, followed by The Partridge Family on tv). And I know several very large families (10+ kids) where they required a parade of loaded shopping carts (along with a police escort to control traffic) to shop for a week's worth of groceries. Still, the routine remained the same: one store, one trip, once a week.

What happened?

There are four people in my household. Four. Plus one dog and two cats. Yet, I find myself food shopping at least three times a week. And not in the same grocery store.

Yesterday, I hit my local supermarket chain for basic food staples. Then I crossed the highway to shop at the Italian grocer for meats, fresh cheese, and fish. Today on my lunch hour, I'll go to the discount store near my office for paper goods, health and beauty aids, and cleaning supplies. I have a local butcher I visit for meat prepared just the way I like it. My poor dog, who's growing old (yet, according to her vet "is in remarkably good health for her advanced age") has developed severe skin allergies and can only eat one brand and flavor of dog food. Of course, this particular hypoallergenic food is only sold in one particular specialty store, which will require another stop. I buy my produce (and some other basics) at Trader Joe's. Now, however, my daughter is working at Whole Foods and insists I have to start shopping there. Once every six weeks or so, I head to the warehouse store for bulk items. Because of my fondness for my Keurig (single-serve coffee brewer), I order my coffee and tea online.

When did food shopping become so complicated? Wasn't technology supposed to make things easier for us? I seem to have less free time and spend more of it food shopping. Even with a list, I always forget a key ingredient or someone in my household puts an empty package back on a shelf to fool me into thinking we still have plenty of that particular item. Don't you hate when you're halfway through a recipe and reach for the vanilla extract, only to find three drops left in the bottom of the bottle? Happens to me all the time. Empty boxes of microwave popcorn, cereal packages with nothing more than three Cheerios lingering in the cellophane wrap seem to find their way back into my pantry. I'll always locate two AA batteries when I need three. And let's not talk about the milk I bought yesterday that's soured even before I remove the safety seal. Or the times my husband decides he wants something unusual for dinner that requires a quick dash for one or two major items.

Does anyone remember Mr. Drucker? Sam Drucker ran the general store in both Green Acres and Petticoat Junction. I don't have a Mr. Drucker in my life, a man who knows exactly what ingredients I'll need from one week to the next and keeps them not only in stock, but ready to go the minute I walk into the store. And a tab! I don't have a tab at any store. Whipping out the debit card is often a painful experience. I don't seem capable of walking into a grocery store for one item and walking back out in possession of only that one item. Supermarket managers know exactly what they're doing when they display those bargains on the end caps.

We live in a wonderful age, chock-full of time-saving conveniences. For me, grocery shopping just isn't one of them.


12 comments:

Loretta C. Rogers said...

Really enjoyed your post, Gina. I'd rather do anything than grocery shop, but we do have to eat.

Gina Ardito said...

Thanks, Loretta. Yes...it's a necessary evil. I know some people who use the shopping services at their local markets, but I'd always wonder if I got the ripest fruit or freshest meat if someone else did my shopping.

Mona Ingram said...

That must have been Mr. Drucker who owned the little store where we shopped every Saturday, quarter clutched in our little hands. I bought "chocolates" and he always gave me an extra one. I wonder if there are any Mr. Druckers left out there?

Unknown said...

Great post, Gina!

Truthfully, shopping is a huge pain in the butt. I used to love it when I shopped in Jersey. I'd go to the supermarket for the usual, then the fish and meat markets. Same thing as you. Here in AZ--no fresh fish--no meat markets and 7 stores to get the things I need. Maybe our tastes have changed. But do you know, for the first three years I couldn't even buy Pastina!! I bugged the store managers so much they finally stocked it--probably just to shut me up. LOL

Gina Ardito said...

Hmmm...Mona's comment reminds me of a nice old man in my neighborhood. He ran a candy store out of his garage with all those big apothecary style jars full of licorice, shoebutton candy, and nonpareils. (think of the guy who sang The Candyman in the beginning of Willie Wonka. Now age him about fifty years and give him an Italian accent.) He wouldn't be allowed to have such a business these days.

Gina Ardito said...

Carolyn, did you ever see My Blue Heaven with Steve Martin? An organized crime figure goes into Witness Protection and winds up in a sleepy California town. At the local supermarket, the manager asks him if there's anything he couldn't find and Steve replies, "Arrugala. It's a veg-e-table." Classic!

Unknown said...

No, but it sounds like a fun movie. I'll have to rent it.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

By the way, ya'll, I just found the follow-up comment button. LOL

Unknown said...

That's absolutely the truth, Gina. The Board of Health would close that dear old man down in a heartbeat and shove a summons in his tired old hands.

Carolyn Brown said...

Since Husband retired, I'm very spoiled. He does the shopping for me! But yes, ma'am, I do remember shopping once a week down at Rush's Grocery Store on Main Street in Tishomingo and we did run a tab.

Sandy Cody said...

So true, Gina. Reminds me of the old saying: "Tasks expand to fill time."