alone at the grocery store

sunrise:  5:05

I happened to be at the grocery store yesterday at the same time as my neighbor and her two children.  The first thing that caught my attention was an intent stare from her little girl, about 4 years old, who knew me even though I was out of context.  It was a happy look of shy recognition.  There is nothing like that look in older people.  It was inordinately flattering, somehow, to be received in that delighted way by a shining young face.

           
I went along on my shopping way, leaving my neighbor chatting happily with her kids as they looked at produce.  Suddenly I had a wave of nostalgic knots in my stomach.  I remember sharing every mundane moment of my daily life with a whole crowd of little people who looked at me with shining young faces -- laundry, cooking, getting dressed in the morning, and loading up the car for an errand which generally became a major outing for the day.

Yes, it was trying at times.  At a lot of times.  Those were days when one of the biggest treats I looked forward to was going to the grocery store---all alone!  What bliss.  What peace.  How clean and organized everything looks. sigh

And here I am today going to the grocery store on my own, no longer a novelty.  It’s still nice, actually.  But…it’s not a shining adventure of discovery, or an exercise in patience and denial, or a sprinting search for a wayward wanderer.  No little hands to hold or questions to answer.

There is time, as I browse this week's specials, to complete a few thoughts, to count my blessings, to walk leisurely down the snack food aisle in silence, if I want to.  Life is good.  And it sure was good then, too.
 
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Critter update:

No new porcupines.  First skunk encounter last night - Guster's loose privileges have been revoked.