Hello, My Friend!
Well, I had a profound message all thought out in my mind for you today. Something to knock your socks right off your feet! (Lying, I’m lying.) Well, sort of. I did have something in mind, but as life would have it, or in this instance, Hurricane Ian would have it, I have a little less time to sit and hammer out a note to you. As you’ve probably heard, there’s a storm a-brewin,’ and it looks like it’s going to wallop Tampa in the next couple of days. That happens to be where my son and his family live, so they are skedaddling over here right now to seek refuge—and mom’s home cooking! And so, I’ve altered my plan to write to you about something else. Something less intense.
Today I’m writing about grocery stores.
Yes, grocery stores. You see, I happen to think that the grocery store is the very core of American civilization. And each chain of stores has its own unique personality. I’m sure you have your favorite place to shop, right? Let me pause here and ask, do you say “grocery shopping” or “food shopping”? It depends on where you grew up. I’m a grocery shopper myself; I like big words. Let me tell you about a couple of the stores where I purchase my victuals. I’m saving my favorite for last.
Trader Joe’s. We have certain things we love from TJ’s. It’s not a place I go to do all of my shopping. It’s more of a home for—accessories. And the atmosphere there feels like it’s always a party. Maybe it’s the colorful shirts the staff wears, the bells at the registers, and the colorfully painted walls, but I always feel like everyone there is a little drunk. I want to dance along with my cart, toss in my triple ginger snaps, and sing some karaoke on my way out.
Whole Foods. Now here’s a place I go from time to time and feel like a complete imposter the entire time I’m there. I know that every other person there knows way more than I do about nutrition. If I am looking for something in particular, ain’t no way I’m going to ask a staff member for help. That would only expose my blatant ignorance, and those people (my people) aren’t really even supposed to be there. Instead, I’ll wander the aisles, occasionally stopping to read a label and look like I blend in. Whole Foods is the much more serious, intellectual cousin to college-frat-boy-Trader-Joe’s.
Fresh Market. Ahhh, Fresh Market. This store has a certain je ne sais quoi. And I’m pretty sure you need to be able to speak French to shop there. (I don’t, but my daughter does, and that was enough to get me “in.”) You really shouldn’t shop there if you’re under, say, 35 years of age. You haven’t lived enough to be snooty enough to wander those aisles. I, being almost 62 and plenty snooty, am allowed. The music! The cleanliness! The flowers! The fancy coffee! Shakespeare once wrote: “If I could write the beauty of your eyes, and in fresh numbers number all your graces, the age to come would say ‘This poet lies; Such heavenly touches ne’er touched earthly faces.’” Methinks he could have been writing about yon Fresh Market! To TJ’s frat-boy and Whole Foods diligent nutritionist, Fresh Market is the book-loving, French-speaking opera enthusiast.
And last but not least . . .
Publix. “Where shopping is a pleasure.” Now, this is my store. I’m at my Publix almost every day. If I were super organized and planned meals for a whole week, I wouldn’t need to go every day, but maybe that’s why I’ve gotten so attached to Publix. It’s my home away from home. I don’t feel like I need to understand a foreign language or quote T.S. Eliot or William Wordsworth to shop there. Nor do I fear asking for help because I’ve generally only encountered friendly workers who help me without displeasure. It just feels like home. Seriously, what better place to get stranded? There are restrooms, all the food and beverages you could ask for, and then an entire pharmacy should you need some medical attention. And don’t get me started on the Publix TV commercials. You can spot one a mile away. If you end up with a tear in your eye, it’s a Publix commercial. And how about the fantastic “pub subs”?? I’m not a big sub eater, but is there anything a man desires more than a pub sub? Well—besides that! I swear if I ever told one of my sons I’d pick them up a pub sub, it was like I was bringing him the moon and stars!
Whether you are a Trader Joe’s wild thing, a Whole Foods health enthusiast, a Fresh Market spouter of Shakespeare, or just a plain old Publix girl like me, we all “gotta eat.” I’m glad to know we live in a country where food is so plentiful. I have never worried a day in my life that I wouldn’t be able to feed my family. Thank God for the abundance we have at our fingertips. So many others are not so blessed.
Since we’re coming up on a slew of holidays, there will be ample opportunities to help give to those who can’t visit four different grocery stores, or maybe even one. I will try to look for those opportunities to share some of the blessings I’ve so readily been given. Maybe you’d care to join me?
Speaking of food, time to put the sauce on! Kids coming home means homemade spaghetti sauce at this house!
Until next time, stay safe, everyone!
Written with love – – – Patti XOXO💗
