A New Shopping Normal.

When an itch doesn't get scratched.

I have had two months to get used to the new way of shopping. Single file, uniformed and silent...reminds me of those days of yore at school! Most shops have stuck bright tape on the floor to help us stay the distance from each other ( don't worry, some of the masks will do that anyway ) and every major shop has disinfectant and paper towels at their entrances in order to disinfect hands and trolley. Masks are non negotiable and that's just the way it is.

Today my Schatzi came along for a drive, shop and I thought my company which I soon realized was more a way of ensuring his treats would end up in our car. Lidl for their vegan chocolate biscuits ( I only noticed at the checkout when it was too late to cause a row!!! ) and Hofer for their vegan Hummus chips. Of course he also came for an outing but, suspiciously, his favourites ended up in our trolley as per usual hidden under the veggies. When I voiced my usual veto at home about the prolific appearance of chips in our cupboards, he told me with a straight face that this stash would last at least a month. Yeah right, heard that before!

But back to the new etiquette of shopping. Bob was far from happy having to don at first a tight orange scarf, and then after it got too hot and bothersome he changed into a black face mask, one that has elastics behind the ears. Walking around like that in a shopping center was new for him and strange too. One thing to wear a mask of sorts when encountering someone among the vines and another to walk among hundreds of fellow maskers. Again, this too shall become normal for him and ironically, most of us will miss them once masks aren't required anymore.

Perhaps the Asian countries whose norm it is to wear face masks regardless of corona or not have a point. It wouldn't harm us to use masks during those winter months when coughing and sneezing in shops seem the norm...

Biggi