A few days ago, I went to the grocery store and kept my gloves on the whole time. I was grateful for the stylus on the card reader, so I could punch in my PIN without baring skin. Once home, after wiping down my bags and containers, I took a shower.
I was unsettled by how unsettled I felt about going out.
Yesterday, I ordered dog food online for the first time. Today, I placed an online delivery order with my local supermarket.
I have used this service before. The first time was when I was on crutches and navigating stores was complicated. I have used it a few times since and it has always been very straightforward. When I sat down to place my order, I considered a couple of meals I might make this week, and selected the “within five hours” option.
My phone pinged just after 9 to let me know that Jessica was shopping my order. And then the texts started.
Yellow onions were out, would organic be OK?
She sent me a photo of the empty been shelf, though she did manage to find cans of cannellini beans. Hooray!
She texted me for substitutions for
- crushed tomatoes
- coffee creamer
- cauliflower
- yellow onions
By the time the app let me know she was on her way, I felt like I knew Jessica.
booksandbassets 
Oh, my! After my most recent outing to shop, I have been thinking of trying this service. I guess, like most things these days, it is going to be complicated. Looking on the bright side, maybe I’ll make a new friend.
Where was this when I had a toddler and a newborn? We have it at my favourite store now, but I haven’t used it. Maybe now is the time.
How lucky we are that there are people that will help in these uncertain times. The empty shelves and substitutions are challenging. Hang in there.
My reactions to shopping are similar. My husband has done most of the grocery shopping, but yesterday we both went. The empty freezer compartments in one store hit me hard. I’ve seen empty shelves, so I don’t know what was different in that moment. When I got home I tossed clothes I’d normally rewear into the laundry after thinking about needing to take extra precautions.
I have online shopped my way through the past three Christmases and many birthdays, but I have never grocery shopped that way. My friends have raves about it, but I have persisted. I like wandering.
But wandering has become stressful- in so many ways. So I have downloaded and peruses apps for the near future. Thanks for a glimpse into what to anticipate- and for a chuckle!
Our local store doesn’t have this option so when I go I go between 6:00 and 7:30 – the time designated for seniors.
I am not quite a senior, but have started to wonder if my hair is grey enough to qualify.
I am a senior already, and my air is rapidly graying!
I have seriously been considering this. Shopping used to be my happy place, I like to just look and decide. I hope I get a Jessica when I try it out!
I, too, have felt this: “I was unsettled by how unsettled I felt about going out.” I also appreciated your brave-new-world peek into the tribulations of delivery shopping.
I think so many of us are feeling this unsettled feeling when we go out to do the things that used to feel so routine. It’s just awful. I’ve been wondering about online shopping, but then I still feel unsettled about who has touched and packed and delivered my groceries. I guess we just have to accept the fact that this whole thing is horribly unsettling.