While looking for something else, I stumbled upon this piece I wrote going on four years ago. It holds together, so I thought I would share it even though its current relevance is questionable. It was written in April of 2020. Consider it an historical document. :0)

I admit it. I’ve gone shopping during our state’s (California) lockdown. For groceries; only groceries. It’s difficult to lay in a month or so’s supply of perishables like bananas (which my youngest thrives on), eggs, and milk. Things like that.

In the past, B.C.V., before Corona Virus, shopping for us was pretty ad hoc. Although we made lists, we had separate ones for Trader Joe’s, Vons, and Smart & Final. We also shopped occasionally at Sprout’s, Stater Brothers, Ralph’s, and a local mom and pop called Green Acres. We would go at least three, sometimes four times a week to pick up fresh produce, dairy, and re-stock our cupboard and freezer. Actually, I forgot to mention Costco which, last time I went (just before the State was locked down) was a freaking nightmare.

So, I’m now basically shopping only once a week, but there are some things we’d like to have available that generally aren’t carried by all of the stores, which is why we normally go to more than one during any given week. This is making it a bit difficult to hold down the trips to only one. In the past week, I went three times.

Inasmuch as I’m nearly 73 years old and have numerous comorbidities (none of which are acute, but they’re active and I take meds for two of them) I’m reluctant to leave the house. However, I’m even more reluctant to expose my wife or daughters to the danger of infection. My oldest has had lung issues when she was a toddler and my understanding is the disease can leave survivors with impaired lung function. I would rather risk my health than hers . . . or my other daughter’s . . . I’ve had a wonderfully rich, often exciting life and they’ve got a long way to go. My wife’s lungs are worse than mine, so I don’t have to balance anything with the decision for her to stay indoors.

I was pleased last week to find that Trader Joe’s, like most local markets, was reserving one hour each morning for those considered more vulnerable. The way they have approached it is to form two lines; one for the elderly, immuno-compromised, and pregnant women (they say nothing about pregnant men; guess that would be another story!) and one for everyone else. They only allow twenty shoppers at a time in the store so, each time the 20 who were shopping are finished, a worker sends in 10 from each line. Last week I was handed a disinfectant wipe upon entry, which I used to clean the cart handle and my hands.

The store was stocked to the gills. I had never seen it so full of just about everything they normally carry. Lots of fresh veggies and fruits, frozen food almost spilling out of the cases, eggs fully loaded, and plenty of dairy, meat, etc. Lots of alcohol as well. I was in and out in about 15 minutes. The lack of crowding means it’s easy to maintain distance from other shoppers. It also makes checking out go quickly and smoothly.

This past Monday, when I returned for my weekly trip, I wasn’t handed a wipe, though I’ve become adept at not touching my face until I return home, unpack and put away the groceries, and ever so thoroughly wash my hands . . . after which I can scratch every damned phantom itch that was plaguing me from the moment I entered the store! I also wore a mask this time, which I found in the garage. It’s an N95, which I purchased about a year ago, when I was doing some woodworking and needed to ensure I wasn’t inhaling sawdust as I was sanding my project. I did feel a wee tad guilty about having the kind of mask that HCWs are having a hard time finding these days, but I got over it.