Standing at that large fridge, I'm trying to decide whether to buy strawberry or apricot yoghurt and after looking at them for a few moments I take both. I've got the bread already. No salami today. Or shall I? I went past the butcher's to the fridge with packed meat and changed my mind and went back for a kilo of minced meat. If I make sauce bolognese it makes no sense to prepare it only for one meal. Oh yes, I'll need onions for that. And back I go. And almost to the butcher's to take something from a shelf near there. And back to the fridge for some cream. And around almost all the shelves just to remember if I need anything else. I'll take some salami anyway - for a nice sandwich instead of cooking later in the evening. I have to squeeze a little between the shelf and the shop-assistant with a huge trolley, loaded with toilet paper. Good! I need some. I'd probably have to go to the shop once more today if it hadn't been for her. Nice that shops are air-conditioned. It feels good looking at things and trying to get all you need (but not more if possible) when you know there's 31°C out there - and humid.
Time perspective drastically changes once you have everything. Once I move towards the cashier, it's annoying to see there are others in the line before me. What is that guy doing with the shopping cart full of washing powder, food and drink? Is he going o buy everything up? And that lady with seven kinds of vegetables? I bet she hasn't weighed them all appropriately... and she'll be running here and there to do it again. But if another cash register opens now, I'm in the best position to be there first. Just a step. Anything? No, nothing happening. Come on, how much time can it take you to count some change and put things in the bag? and this basket on the floor? You shouldn't be in the line unless you've got everything... We move a little, two more people join the line. Oh, I remember now, I need some shower gel... I won't be a minute... Do you mind? Thanks. The next cash register opens and the man behind me is there first. Hey! I was here before you! Never mind. It will be my turn as soon as they put away all the vegetables and the beer and soda..
My turn. Everything in the bag, paid, bye!
Gee, I wouldn't have spent ten minutes looking for things had I known it would take me so long to pay for them! It took me ... what.. three minutes? This must be wrong!
I know what you mean. Even though I try to cultivate an attitude of presence in the moment and open curiosity as I stand in line (wait for a bus . . wait 'on hold' for my phone to be answered), I often forget and get impatient. Also - I sometimes take quite a while circling around to get a close parking spot on a beautiful day when a little walking wouldn't hurt me anyway. Go figure!
ReplyDeleteOh, you know SO WELL what I mean! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's that way everywhere! Although I love the self-checkout machines that some stores have here in the U.S. Also, it seems rather warm where you are! We are basking at 18C here in Michigan!
ReplyDeleteWarm? It's HOT! And it's only starting...
ReplyDeleteI don't like those self-checkout machines. Maybe I just don't use them often enough to get used to them. And sometimes they're just as busy as everything else.
31* C!?! Yep, that's hot alright, and you say it's just starting? How hot does it get there in the summer? Here 31 is about normal for a summer day, but it can get to be as much as 38 (108* F for all those that don't know the conversion). I don't recall it ever getting worse than that, but that's plenty bad enough!
ReplyDelete36°C 38°C can be pretty normal in summer, getting up to 40, I guess. Today the weather has changed its mind, it's windy and a storm may be coming. It's 20°C.
ReplyDeleteWow! 31 is pretty warm. It's not 31 here. It's 9 right now.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, that sounds like every grocery shopping experience I have.
I find myself being far too impatient for my own good, and surely so for others around me. Seems we are all in a hurry.
ReplyDelete