More Signs of the Time

Being Friday night, Sam and I went out to the grocery store so he could choose something to eat for Friday night dinner and to pick-out something for his weekend breakfasts. We found what he wanted with little problem - at least, less of a problem than it was to find a parking spot - but geeze, the place looked like the day before a predicted blizzard, maybe the worst blizzard in human history - only on steroids.

People were nuts. In many areas of the store, the place looked as if it had been looted. The paper goods aisle was completely empty - of paper goods that is, not people. People were staggering up and down the empty aisle, as if in some zombie-like state, searching in vain for the unseen mega-packs of toilet paper.

The meat aisle was little better. The few packs of beef left behind from the apparent rampage were strewn all over the empty case. It looked like a house that had been ransacked by an especially sloppy and inconsiderate burglar. Why are we hoarding beef? Do all these people have freezers? Do they realize that at some point they're going to have to eat it all?

And the lines at the check-out were a nightmare - even more so than usual. To their credit, the store had shockingly opened all but one or two of the registers. Even still, the lines were spreading down the aisles. It looked like a mob of people waiting for the gates to open at a stadium - only these people had shopping carts.

One look at this and I told Sam to put the chicken strips and potato wedges back while I went and put back his frozen waffles. There was no way I was going to stand in one of these lines for three items. I showed him where to wait for me (leaving out the instructions, "If I don't make it back...") and I fought my way back to the frozen food aisle.

On the way to the frozen food aisle, I saw an employee come out of the back of the store and begin to wheel a pallet of toilet paper to the empty toilet paper aisle. A few people were taking notice and began to follow him.

On my way back from the frozen food aisle, I passed the paper goods aisle and the same guy was now stopped and a crowd of people had formed around him. Everyone was reaching in all directions. Everyone was thrilled to see him. And everyone was all smiles. But what happens when this guy hands out the last roll of toilet paper?

I leave feeling bad for him. I'm sure it will get ugly(er).

I met Sam in our designated spot and we got the heck out of there.

Tonight, I think, we'll have tacos.