Observations While Shopping During the Christmas Season

A"quick" trip to the local grocery store and farmer's market to pick up some apples, milk and beer (for making the best chili), turned into an extended shopping trip.

First stop was "The Apple Guy".  Bless his heart, he will be there with apples and cider until just before Christmas--in any weather.  It is a delightful day (in comparison to what we have had lately) and we were able to chat a bit. 

Next stop, Shop N Save.  I'm sure it is Shop and Save, but that is not how it is said in Western PA.  Example:  "I'm go'n dawn to the Shop N Save ta git some milk n'at."  Well, it seems that this store was the place to be!  It was packed, no doubt with the regular Saturday shoppers, but with those stocking up for the coming snow storm, not to mention the ladies laden with sugar and spices ready to do some baking.  I only came for milk.  In my cart were bananas, Hershey kisses (baking, of course), eggs (more baking) and finally, milk.  Upon turning the corner to head to the checkout, there were a sea of people waiting in lines.  The first checkout land is the "Express" lane.  That line was weaving all the way back to the deli counter.  Bad sign.  It wasn't long before I could see it was breaking up and there were rumors being spread that the register was down...indeed, the light was out.  So, all those folks headed for the already crowed regular checkout lanes.  These lanes were now headed back the aisles, which was making navigation interesting.  I picked a lane that looked reasonable.  By "reasonable", I mean that five people ahead of me did not have carts full to the brim for the next two weeks.

It is during my waiting time, that I was watch and listen to the people around me.  Behind me, old friends had found each other and there was much teasing and laughter.  Several people ahead of me, a woman, who was clearly put out about something, was expressing a stone cold face to the poor cashier.  There was some sort of issue with one of her purchases that required a change of cashiers, and this woman had to make a trip to the front desk.  The woman just ahead of me, smiling a pleasant carrying her clementines, said something nice to the new cashier.  I don't know what was said, but her expression changed to being on the verge of tears to a smile.  Words really can be gifts of gold wrapped in silver boxes.

Packing up my meager purchases, I headed off to the pizza shop where I can purchases single bottles of beer.  Since it was a nice day, I thought I would make the walk down the sidewalk and through the closed in part of the shopping center, to the pizza shop...praying my hip didn't give out.  Inside this little mini, and I do mean "mini" mall, Santa was seeing little ones.  I knew it before I opened the door...there was a screaming child outside with her grandma.  "I don't want to see him!!!"  Inside there was a short line, but also screaming children and a I wonder if Santa may not have been the problem, but the person dressed as a reindeer.  Creepy.

Safely out the door, I headed to the pizza shop.  Usually this place is busy, but it was strangely quiet...ahh, not quite lunch time.  There was a man making pizza dough by hand, who said he would be right with me.  I set my groceries down and waited several minutes until a young man appeared from the kitchen (who apparently could not wait on me until he put the hood on from his sweatshirt....then promptly removed it when I told him what I needed.  There are things I don't understand.  I asked for some Black and Tan.  Well, it seems that they were out of Black and Tan.  He asked if a Porter would do.  Now, of course, my beer knowledge is very limited, but I knew I needed something dark for the chili.  Along comes a customer from the back corner for a refill from the tap (it is just past 11 am).  The clerk asked him if a Porter is what I needed.  He said that, indeed, a Porter is darker and would be a great choice.  This little town is full of helpful people--really.  You never know when one is going to show up.  The man making the pizza dough hollered that the gentleman was an expert.  OK then.  Upon leaving, I noticed a small sign, "Beer makes everything better."  Now I know.

Packing up all my bags again, I head for the car.  The sun is shining the temperature is above freezing, I now know that beer makes everything better.  I can clean the bathroom and do some laundry knowing that I have learned much today.

**CORRECTION  It seems that the store really is Shop 'N Save...figures...Western Pennsylvania.

O LORD GOD,
There is no blessing we implore but thou art able to give,
   hast promised to give,
   hast given already to countless multitudes,
   all unworthy and guilty like ourselves;
Make us willing to receive the supply of our need from thy bounty....
...Help us to be in the Spirit on the Lord's Day,
   to enter upon the sabbath mindful of it solemnities, duties,
      and privileges,
   setting all things worldly aside while we worship thee.
--an excerpt from Future Blessings,  from the Valley of Vision