Читать книгу Funny, but True - - Страница 9

COVID-19 is an invisible enemy. The government urged people to go shopping as little as possible. I followed the guidelines diligently – until my refrigerator was empty, forcing me to visit the grocery store. Fortunately, there were guidelines for that, too: maintain social distancing.

I felt prepared. Every three years, I take a Defensive Driving Course to get a discount on my car insurance. One of the basic rules of safe driving is to keep a sufficient distance from other cars on the road. I could apply the same principle in the grocery store.

I went to the “Stop & Shop” after 9 p.m. to avoid crowds. But when I arrived, I discovered the store was closed at 8 p.m. due to the pandemic.

The next day, I returned earlier, only to be greeted by a large crowd at the entrance. It felt like approaching an enemy line. I donned my mask, gloves, and glasses, looking like a Formula 1 driver gearing up for a race. Once inside, I found the store surprisingly spacious. Navigating the aisles felt like ballroom dancing. With my shopping cart as my partner, I waltzed carefully, keeping the mandated six feet of distance from others.

Eventually, I reached the aisle I needed. Each aisle was like a two-lane road. I managed to keep my distance from shoppers behind me, but to avoid people coming toward me was tricky. The only solution was to wait until the aisle was empty before entering. And so, I did.

Usually, I take my time reading labels to ensure I’m buying healthy products. But under the circumstances, there was no time for that. I had to sacrifice my usual standards for the sake of safety. I grabbed crackers, water, meat, and coffee as quickly as possible and left.

When I got home and looked at the labels, I realized my haste had led to unusual purchases. The crackers were with salt, the water was sparkling, the meat was excessively fatty, and the coffee was decaf. These were all items I’d never buy under normal circumstances.

But I didn’t catch COVID-19. That was the real victory. Trying these unfamiliar products was a strange but surprisingly refreshing experience. Each cloud, after all, has its silver lining.