Shelter in Place - Adventures in Shopping under the New Normal

So, on Friday it sounded like the CDC was going to suggest everyone wear a mask when venturing out in public.  I thought I would make myself one, since I had to go out to the stores the next day.  I had the brilliant idea of cutting up an old, cotton nightgown that had thin straps ('perfect to use as ties', I thought), so for about an hour I cut and hand sewed (no sewing machine) something that does resemble a mask and actually works, but it was uncomfortable, too lumpy, and fogged up my glasses when I wore it. 

Got up at 7:30 AM on Saturday with the goal of getting out of the house around 8:00, which is when Target opens. Since the shelter in place started, I have gotten into the habit of going to two, and sometimes three, stores on Saturday morning.  I used to go to one store at 4:00 in the afternoon, but the late bird gets no worms in this brave new world.  Tried on the mask again, said 'nah' and dug up an old bandana that worked pretty well, except the knot would come loose and I had to keep re-tying it.  A work in progress.

Headed for Target and got there around 8:05.  There was a line of about 50 people out front, standing in a gentle misty rain, six feet apart, waiting to be let into the store in small groups.  I'd say it was about 60/40 masks/no masks.  I joined the line.  People kept coming out of the store carrying large packages of Scott's toilet paper, so I was hopeful of scoring some.  I guess this is how addicts feel.  By the time I got in, all that was left was some off brand I had never heard of, but I grabbed it and felt like I had won the lottery.  Another success - they had a good supply of Campbell's Chunky Chicken Noodle Soup, which Larry likes to eat for lunch.  The last time I was in Safeway, they didn't have a single can of Chunky Soup of any kind - not one.  So, I bought eight at Target, which is the limit, paid and headed to my next stop, Safeway.

There, I was greeted by an employee who pointed me towards the carts which had been wiped down with sanitizer.  Only one entry/exit was open to make sure people only used those carts.  She also asked us to wait until the checker gave the okay to put our groceries on the conveyor belt at checkout.  There is a plexiglass shield up between the customer and the checker and we are asked to avoid contact if possible.  I had heard that they were going to have one way aisles, but that hadn't happened yet, so we will see next week.

I am so used to seeing empty toilet paper and paper towel shelves that I don't even think about it now.  This is the new normal.  They also were practically out of dishwasher and dish detergent, as well as eggs, which is ironic since Petaluma was once the self-proclaimed 'egg capital of the world'.  It reminds me of what they used to tell us about life in the old USSR.  Word would go out that a shop had shoes or meat, and everyone would rush to line up to get it while it lasted.  There were plenty of times in my life when I didn't have the money for everything I wanted, but I don't remember a time like this even through fire, flood and earthquakes.

Of course, this is really just an inconvenience.  There are no real shortages, just people behaving badly and buying more than they need.  The folks working in the grocery stores are literally risking their lives to keep the shelves stocked, and I am grateful to be healthy and able to go to the store.