Rage against the Bowl:
I have one sick child in the cart (my own). I have another shrill, excitable child strapped to my back. I am trying to buy food to eat. Why do people make it so difficult?
Example number one: Today, old men abounded in the Bowl. Old men with hearing aids, old men with eye seeing dogs, old men wandering aimlessly, leaving their carts stranded in very awful places.
Okay, I know that is not nice.
Example number two: Today, cranky new moms with their babies in those pampered, protected seat covers (you know the ones: brightly colored, padded material with toys attached; nice back covers; total protection against the possibility of a homeless person having touched the cart) also abounded in the Bowl. They were giving me (or I guess my sick child) NASTY looks for having brought a sick child to the grocery store while they were buying their yogurt and broccoli.
Example number three: One particularly enthusiastic Street Sheet seller really wanted my money. Can’t you seeing I’m juggling (literally) two toddlers? Can’t you see my cart (with child and groceries) rolling through the parking lot without me? Can’t you see eggs getting crushed as I shove them in the trunk? Can’t you see my child throwing my cell phone into oncoming traffic? Can’t you see the traffic jam (extending out of the lot, on to Shattuck) as some idiot waits for me to load up and pull out? Holy fucking shit, okay?
Example number four: My checker was not so nice or sympathetic in regards to my multitudes of children. I don’t expect help, but assistance is always appreciated. My child screeched for Cheddar Bunnies while the other kid (the one on my back) alternately stretched dangerously for the card swiper or waved her body violently for the bag of apples. Meanwhile, the checker sat and watched me bag all the groceries and then lift the bags into the cart. He really just stood there and watched me. I don’t know. Maybe I’m just being cranky.
Example number five: This example you can always count on at the Bowl, but it f-ing annoyed me today. Two people are standing across from each other in the aisle. Both people are carefully examining the ingredients of whatever product they are deciding to buy (“Should I get the spelt cracker with 1 gram of salt?”). Both people are oblivious to the world. Both people have carts or baskets which have totally blocked the aisle. Both people don’t notice me. Both people don’t hear my, “excuse me.” So then I am forced to shimmy my way through people and carts and baskets, usually whacking something with the clunky back end of the baby-backpack. Then I generally get either an ugly look or halfhearted grin. The spice aisle and the canned veggies/soup aisle caused me real heartache today.
To be fair, I am sure me and my babies were very annoying to other customers and employees (crushed Cheddar Bunnies were scattered everywhere). Also, once I got to Berkeley Bowl, I realized the store had been closed yesterday for President’s Day. You NEVER go to the Bowl after a holiday. Never. So, I kind of asked for it. Anyway, I am sorry to rant and rave, but I needed to get it off my shoulders.
