Easter Eve Shopping

Yesterday, I had a few items to pick up at the grocery store for today’s dinner. Who wants to visit Wegmans the day before a holiday? I pictured shopping cart pile-ups, empty shelves, and much jostling to reach the potatoes, rolls, and pop that were on my list in addition to a number of other items.

For some reason, there’s always music blasting in the vestibule where the carts and seasonal items reside. Train’s “Hey Soul Sister” set the mood and pumped me up for my entrance into the fray. Not 10 feet into the produce section, I hit my first impass. A young teen, her mom, and a cart filled the space between me and the arugula. I had to chart an alternate root to the potatoes. Same with the pistachios and tortilla chips, which were obstructed by another mom and a girl who looked to be around nine. The little girl was surprisingly grown up as she told me I could pass by her.

Further into the store, I noticed, in general, that the ratio of people to carts seemed to be higher than usual. In frozen foods, a group of four grown women were advising a girl of about six to corral a toddler girl who teetered in my path. When the little girl picked up her bobbing sibling,my heart skipped a beat while I pictured the toddler being dropped on her head.

As I continued my shopping, it occurred to me that there was a lot more noise in the store than usual. Voices calling, intense discussions, light arguments, and laughter! In addition, people present included those who didn’t exhibit the grey, weary appearance of Erieites emerging from a long, punishing winter. I realized that on the day before a holiday, out-of-town guests are often a part of the food shopping and preparation activities. What fun!

Finally, as I stood in line at the checkout, the cashier looked like she was ready to drop. When it was my turn, she didn’t ask me if I wanted paper or plastic. She never even looked up until it was time for me to sign for my credit card.

“Are you having a good day?” I asked, catching a glance from her.

She let out a mammoth sigh.

“I’m sure this has been a very busy day for you.”

“It certainly has,” she said.

“Well, I hope you have a wonderful Easter,” I said, taking a chance, that she celebrates.

She returned the sentiment. I don’t have a big revelation about that exchange, except that I got her to look up from what she was doing for a moment, and it made me feel good.

Outside, rolling the cart to my car, a little blonde-haired cherub observed me from her carseat where she waited with her dad for someone (her mom?) to finish shopping. I gave her a maternal smile as I passed by.

If I had to account for the most inspiring portions of my Easter weekend, I’d say that shopping trip would be near the top.