Post 196: Forget Stop and Shop, its more like stop, drop, and run

 So, I went to Stop and Shop earlier today after picking up some takeout deli from Ben's on Long Island. We are expecting some bad weather tonight so I thought it would be a good idea to get some prepared food and and few more grocery items. It turned out to be a mistake.

The first red flag was that the carts in the front of the store were locked together.  I know its probably to prevent them from blowing away in the wind, but I didn't feel like getting a cart from the parking lot so picked up a basket to shop a bit, and also a little workout carrying things.

My main objective was organic bananas anything other than that was a bonus.  I think in general that is how I usually shop. Rarely with a list I just shop and see what happens. Probably a bad idea.  I also forgot shopping bags.  In some stores in New York they charge you for paper bags. I really should try to remember to bring them, or leave them in the trunk.   Today I had "bag envy"

After walking down the produce aisle I got ready to check out, but unfortunately there was no express, and every cart I saw was at capacity.  I was a bit annoyed, and I dislike the self checkout so I just put everything back where I found it and turned to leave the store.

To be fair I didn't just leave the basket with the food in it because I thought it was bad form, but part of me felt like a bit of a quitter.

I suppose I have to keep things in perspective because even though food is important in the scheme of things our mental health and the time we have is equally so.

One other thing I want to mention is that when I was walking into Ben's earlier there was a man limping behind me so I held the door for him to get inside and after I held it someone else did the same. Courtesy and good deeds are contagious I suppose.

The man  with a limp said to anyone who would listen that he fell down a flight of stairs earlier in the day but wasn't going to let anything stop him from having his lunch. That really impressed me, but I don't know what he would have done if had to wait on a line in the grocery store with a full basket though. 

Life Lesson 196: They say that some things are worth the wait, but I would argue that a few organic items for a salad probably aren't, and for me that certainly is food for thought, literally.

 At least I got the knish.

Post 195: The Life Cycle

The clock is ticking

And soon I’ll be 55

And it got me thinking

Why am I alive?

Tragedy seems to be happening

Every single day

Or maybe I’m just focusing on the wrong things

I wish I could look away

You see one loss is something 

Something we can all usually stand

But when it hits us back to back overwhelming

So sad, and hard to understand

A moving car, a health battle lost

Can each do the same

Emotionally drain us

And drive us a bit insane

It’s times like this that we should stop and think

What else do I want to do?

What remains unwritten

What in the world I want to view?

What could I become?

If I had all the time

I can’t trap it in a bottle

I just want to complete the rhyme

Time also to pray

And time to appreciate what we have

Time to connect with family

And time to say what we need to say

My mother always said

That funerals were for the ones we lost

And shivas to help the living

But I suppose what we need most

Is more time, more love, and more forgiving

I’m not Shakespeare yet

And probably I never need be

But I can still seize the day

And remember to always be me.

Post 194: Loss

 

A Facebook post

A relative lost

Long forgotten phone calls

Cousins but never seen

 

Long Island

Staten Island

Homes by the water

Different lives

But family nevertheless

 

Different views

And temperament at times

But

Family

 

You went to Florida

And things weren’t always Rosy with mom

But there were also birthday dinners at Lugers for the boys

 

I’m sorry I never became your friend on Facebook

Or that you said don’t speak to me again to someone I love

But now that you are gone

I wish

How I wish you were still here

For our family to make amends

And maybe to have you over to celebrate a holiday

I promise not to talk politics

 

You raised three beautiful children

And I hope you are in heaven

If there is one, I think you belong there

With a Giants game on

 

Wait for us

It may be a while

But we hope someday to watch with you too

Rest in Peace Bryna

 

Post 193: I Remember

Art from the Heart · I remember

 

 

I Remember

I remember my neighbors next door

For their kindness and love

And so very much more

 

Sure, there were conflicts

Over the size of the fence

But you always offered to mend it

And always meant what you said

 

So many times, Richard would snowplow our drive

And I still can’t believe you both aren’t alive

 

Marilu and Richard, thank you for all the things that you did

You didn’t deserve to die

You should be home with your kids

 

I remember Marilu the diva, her flan and Spanish rice

I remember how happy you both were

Spending time with Michelle and Kyle

 

Marilu planting flowers

And her trips to Puerto Rico

And Richard talking the news of the time

And how they always treated each other as equals

 

Marilu would always tell my mother she loved her

And that Bruce and I were great sons and brothers

 

Richard and Marilu you will remain in our hearts

Even when the years go by and we are apart

 

RIP I still can’t believe you are gone.

I wish I could have told you one last time how much we appreciate you

Forget good fences make good neighbors

The truth is good memories are what we need most.