Grocery Shopping in a Pandemic

What was always a very ordinary weekly event has become quite extraordinary yet we have become accustomed to our new routines.   With the hope that this too will pass I want to record our weekly grocery shop.

Our usual time is Saturday mornings and our usual place is McCaffery's at Princeton Shopping Mall.   Groceries are more expensive than they were in South Bend and it has taken time to get used to finding things in a new store.  Occasionally we have shopped at Shoprite where items are cheaper but the stores are so large and confusing.  We do head to Target every few weeks especially we need "health and beauty" needs and then we get their bargains--like cereal and coffee and the staple for us--Triscuits.

When the pandemic first hit, there was a run on toilet paper and other paper products.   Disinfecting wipes were unavailable and shortages of meat were threatened.  We could not always find flour or even once, pasta!   That was a bit frightening but has eased up. 

We wipe off the handle of the cart before we get started.  We are required to wear masks in the stores and at McCaffery's, the aisles are marked one way only.   Check out lanes have stripes to suggest six feet distancing and the clerks have shields between them and us.   We cannot bring in our reusable bags.  There are no ready made meals buffet style and muffins, etc. are individually wrapped.  We have not had to wait in line at McCaffery's but at Trader Joes, we have stood outside for about ten minutes.  As one customer left, another one was allowed into the store. 

We have not eaten in a restaurant for several months now.  We have done takeout meals a few times and this week, even had takeout margaritas with our meal from On the Border.  Restaurants are beginning to open up for outside dining but we haven't booked a reservation for that yet. 

We are eager to treat ourselves and to join friends or relatives for a meal in a restaurant again.  But we are thankful that the supply chain does not seem to have broken down permanently.  We are definitely not going hungry.