Of course, on the one day I went shopping this week, which was Monday, I didn’t buy milk. My DH is the only one in the house that drinks it, and only with cereal in the morning. So when I ventured forth unto Shoprite last Monday, I wasn’t thinking about needing milk. I had bought a half-gallon the week before, and just how big are our cereal bowls? But I forgot that we are living in the Upside Down Inside Out.
By Wednesday morning there was no milk in the house. Part of this was my fault, I suppose. I had chosen to make French toast for dinner the night before, along with ham, egg, and cheddar muffins. DH dumped the last drops into his cereal and looked at me with sad eyes.
The last thing I wanted to do was go out again. My nerves have been a bit shot this week. NJ is tightening restrictions again. And at this moment, I thought about saying “Get it yourself,” but I have been the only one out and about these past weeks. It wouldn’t make sense sending DH. Plus, he’s been working. I’ve been sleeping.
First, I called a neighbor, the one who picks up groceries for the older ladies on the street. I thought if I could beg hard enough, he might say yes. Which he did. But by 8:00 p.m. we still didn’t have milk. At 8:05, he texted to apologize and said he would go the next day. That didn’t happen either.
I felt that I had overstepped my neighborly boundaries by asking. So today, I decided to do errands.
First stop would be the post office to drop off some bills.
Second would be the bank, which you have to use the drive through these days for any transactions.
Third was up in the air. Did I want to go to Rite Aid, which is close? Or did I want to go a bit farther to Target? There I could pick up a few things, and spend some time wandering.
Fourth: a trip to Dunkin Donuts. Friday treat: two coffees and a doughnut for Munchkin.
The first leg of my journey was easy. The second a bit more trying. I had a hard time getting the canister out of the bank’s tube. I almost dropped it, forcing me to stretch a bit too far out the window of my SUV. Mind you, I had the seat belt on. I was mortified as I managed to pretzel myself, twisting my shoulder into an unnatural position, my fingers clinging to the canister top, willing it not to fall to the ground beneath my car. When I was done, my shoulder ached and I had broken a sweat. The car behind me moved over to the other lane. It was a mortifying experience to say the least. Sore and embarrassed, I decided on Rite Aid. Before getting out of the car, I donned my butterfly mask and quickly fogged up my glasses. It took me about fifteen minutes to decide which milk to buy, and to wander a bit. A glance at my watch told me it was nearly 10:00 a.m., and I knew DH was waiting for his milk, and his coffee. The last leg of my journey went a bit smoother. I’ve learned that the owners of this drive -through D&D love the phone app, which I had installed a few days ago. There was a small line when I pulled into the store. But the time I had left, the line spilled out onto the highway.
I headed home.
DH was happy to have the coffee, but the milk remains unopened tonight.
Going out today was a masked adventure, and despite everything, I’m inclined to venture forth tomorrow. While things are dire, FEAR doesn’t help. Going out wasn’t the worst thing I’ve done. Even if it was for moo milk.
Namaste.
Meandering Through Midlife 
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