Road Trip
Glorious Summer Holidays
If I do not go to the shop today we shall all starve.
But that's the real trouble with holidays. If push comes to shove, and it might, I may be able to drag something out of the freezer, kicking and screaming. But if they won't eat the defrosted victim, I shall be no further forwarder. What good are hot dogs without any buns?
No.
A trip to the shops is a must. A trip to the shops with all my lovely children, and Nonna will be a bust.
There are the usual calculations to be made. Interesting shop where I might be able to contain them or boring shop where everyone will run away. A shop with electric doors will ensure that I'll be able to find one escapee. A shop without strip lighting, as the flickers lead to fleeting. A shop with no freezer section because the buzz drives one batty.
Then there's timing. Sufficiently after breakfast so that they're not too hungry. Not too late in the morning, so as to have a better chance at a curb side parking slot, to minimize the chance of death by traffic.
One list for each child. One list with three essential and preferred items each. Ensure that my handwriting will pass muster for the perfectionist. If it's cursive, make sure it is sufficiently curly not zig zaggy. Who in their right mind would hold a piece of paper with those jagged angled zags?
I really need an aide memoire, a little check list pinned to the door for all essentials. Mustn't forget the huge blanket this time. I certainly won't make that mistake again, the fire dance in the car park! 20 minutes shopping with the car parked outside in the heat. A toasty little furnace. A metal box absorbing heat atoms. At the height of summer, in California, in America, airless and still. How could we survive without a thick fleece blanket? Not only do I need to remember to take it, I need to remember to cover the seats.
September 26th, 2008 at 1:39 am
In Australia you know that Summer has officially arrived when you can’t hold the steering wheel for the heat
September 26th, 2008 at 2:43 am
And I get strange looks when I wistfully look around at other shoppers and envy the ease of which they browse and load their carts!
Ever feel like making lists for your lists?
September 26th, 2008 at 6:36 am
i am like a bank robber when i go shopping, i go in and then out – nobody gets hurt
September 26th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Maddy, you paint such a vivid picture. You are a true artist indeed. I can only imagine – there I’m doing it now! Yikes :0)
Fortunately, Frog is not too put off by shopping trips. His only rule – the cart must be in motion at all times. We are quite a sight careening down the aisles grabbing and tossing product into the basket as we whiz by.
Hope you were able to escape the peril of toasted buns!
September 26th, 2008 at 9:49 am
When I saw your tag for this post — allergic to shopping — I made that embarrassing whooping noise I make every time I read you.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:43 am
All of the things we must remember and manage for a simple trip to the grocery store! But I would to run into your lot at the store. You make me brave. =)
September 26th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Oh my…this all sounds familiar!
And one wonders why I make such a stink about my ‘days’ off and not wanting to venture into a store? hmmmm…thank you for letting me know I’m not alone!
September 26th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Hazy hot and humid, or cool crisp and fall—–heavy fleece blankets are _always_ sine qua non around here.
October 1st, 2008 at 2:46 am
We are now reaching the ‘owie me seat is too hot stage’ and it is only spring. Big blanket seems like a good solution.