There I was, on the top of my tippy toes, a would-be heroine of the supermarket, brandishing the largest roll of Reynolds Wrap – surely the only thing in the store older than me. With my signature scarlet red overcoat (of Toots fame) and my ballerina flats, I hoisted my box of foil in an attempt to slay a box of Saran Wrap on the very top shelf.
There was a younger man – a fit-as-a-fiddle power shopper reading the label of something or other, a last-minute purchaser on Christmas Eve day. The store with aisles crammed with eleventh hour shoppers for that one ingredient needed. He seemed oblivious to my to-and-fro lunges as I leapt across the aisle with my weapon of choice in pursuit of the one item I needed.
On the very top shelf (isn’t it always so?), in the very back of said shelf were two rolls of the plastic wrap I needed. One on top of the other, as far back as possible and quite impossible for me to reach. I made room on the very bottom shelf to step upon, but, really? me? I don’t do well on any steps, let alone the very bottom shelf of everything and anything used in food storage.
I reconnoitered, looked helpless and hopeless, but, no one seemed to notice me, especially the fit-as-a-fiddle shopper, who seemed oblivious to my plight. He was at least six feet tall. What WAS he reading?
I uttered an “oh bother“, then proclaimed “en garde” as I leapt upward in a determined maneuver to pry the sticky wrap down, only to be bombarded with parchment paper and snack sized plastic bags. A squeaky wheeled cart snuck past and then a kiddie-cart whose diminutive driver actually looked up at me.
“One more try” said I to self. I lunged once more – then heard a sweet voice say “let me help you“. I looked down to the see the softest beige coat with hair to match gazing up at me. Not more than an inch taller, she said “We short people have to help each other out. Let me get that for you. ” – and she did. She reached WAY up and she nailed it. Really. She had these perfectly polished long nails and nailed it! She handed me the plastic wrap, I thanked her, wished her a Merry Christmas – and she drove out of sight.
Am I the only one who has such adventures at the grocery store?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Prc8zLJO83I
Haha…love it! I can picture it now! Glad you had some help…but kuddos for trying.
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I’m sure the visual was vivid for you, Jennifer. Thank you, thank you. 🙂
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It sounds like you had quite a Christmas Eve workout! This brought flashbacks of last minute Christmas preparations that makes me glad it’s January! 😉
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Me, too, Janet. I came home to discover not one, but two, boxes of plastic wrap in the basement. Sigh. Oh well, I got a blog post out of it. 🙂
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It’s nice when strangers lend a helping hand. Since I’m fairly tall, I often help those who are unable to reach higher shelves….it just feels good!
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Indeed, it is, Jill, and truly, most folks are helpful. The younger man was just zoned out. My surprise was definitely the shorter woman. This was at a favorite store and they are usually right there to help – it was just that it was Christmas Eve.
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With a Happy wrapping to all and to all a goodnight. (You know I had to do that.)
We short people do need friends to help. Last summer I was in our Dollar General trying to reach the jar of pickle relish on the top shelf. We were having a pickle emergency. Anyway, I tried, contemplated the bottom shelf climb and reach as you did but decided against it. I didn’t want to topple and catch it because I wasn’t sure if the jar was plastic or glass. So I said to myself “Where is a tall person when you need one?” From a couple of aisles away I heard a voice say, “I’ll be right there, Mrs. Dillow” And there he was former third grade student, former Redbird Mascot all 6’4″ of good natured smiling big guy. He was a pirate during recess in third grade, but today, Dylan was my hero and pickle rescuer. Aren’t small towns grand?
I love your story and your solution.
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Haha! Of course you did, Janet (and I’m happy you did).
What a great story! A former student, pirate extraordinaire, Redbird Mascot, and pickle picker, coming to the rescue for Mrs. Dillow at the Dollar General. Love it – and all the credentials Dylan brings. 🙂 Small towns are indeed grand and it is these little things in life that bring such joy.
I think I need to bring my own 6’4″ giant to the store with me. 🙂
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Yes! I have the same adventures as you and it’s so so frustrating 🙂 ! MZ
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It can definitely be frustrating Mz&Cho – but fun, too. I meet the nicest people in the grocery story. 🙂
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Oh Penny! I thought I was the only one who had those item-at-the-back-of-the-tallest-shelf blues. I constantly have to use items to snag those hard to reach top shelf items.
I’m glad someone finally helped you! Interesting how it’s usually the unlikely person who comes to the rescue, rather than the one who looks the part. 😁
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There are many of us out there, L. Marie – shelf-challenged but hearty stock. 🙂 There are usually stockers and staff around to help at this particular store, but, not on Christmas Eve. haha
It is interesting that it usually the most unlikely person. The likely person was clueless as to what I was doing. haha Maybe he was really one of the paid security persons.
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Penny, I started laughing before you even started to tell this story! I can just picture you taking those Reynolds Wrap lunges! You are just so funny. I don’t see how the younger, fit gentleman could not have noticed your efforts, in particular because you were wearing your beautiful red coat! My guess is that he was watching out of the corner of his eye and in amusement, hated to interfere. You can just be grateful he wasn’t recording it and putting it up on Youtube! LOL!
I don’t really have these adventures in the grocery stores. I’m not sure, but perhaps I would have given up. You have great determination. And a style all your own, m’dear! 🙂
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Debra, he was totally clueless. As I mentioned to L. Marie, maybe he was hired security personnel. 🙂 Either that, or I reminded him of his nutty great-aunt. (It is early in the morning here and my mind wanders). Please let me know if I show up on YouTube.
I was close to giving up, but, I really needed that sticky wrap with dozens of cookies to wrap. I think Tom would tell you that I’m just plain stubborn (and he’d be right).
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As soon as I read your comment back to me I started laughing again, Penny. I don’t know why this has tickled me as much as it did. And to add to our lists of “slips, trips and falls,” I am nursing a badly sprained ankle. All I did was stand up. LOL! But I rolled my ankle and oh boy! it’s a doozy! I wish I at least had a good story to go with it. I really just stood up! I’ll mend…
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We are two peas in a pod, Debra- or something like that. 🙂
I AM, however, sorry to hear about the sprained ankle. A sprain can be as painful as a break. I”m sure you are icing it and keeping it up, but, no fun.
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Haha! Thank you for a good laugh. I’m not real short (5’4 1/2) but I DO have trouble reaching stuff on those top shelves. And it seems there are very few people working in the stores nowadays. Sometimes I give up and wait to get the item. I was surprised the other day when a woman asked me to grab something for her (since I don’t think of myself as tall), but it was within reach for me. Yeah! A win.
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So pleased toggle you a good laugh, Sue. I think I would have given up, but, I really needed that plastic wrap. This store is usually well stocked and someone usually around to help. I think it was because of it being Christmas Eve. The tall chap was annoying, but, who knows what he was doing. I’m convinced he was undercover security. haha I’m not often asked to help get something down, but, very often asked where an ingredient may be, especially spices. Ah well, a new day and a new adventure – if I go to the grocers. Thanks for commenting, Sue.
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Thanks for the laugh Penny. I’m glad the story ended well. I’m a shorty too and my theory is that we move and reach things with our brain power. Since there is no other way.
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I like that theory, Juliet. 🙂 Thank you.
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We should shop together Penny! I’m tall with long arms and have often helped other people with top shelf items. But everything I need is always on the bottom one and it is getting harder by the minute to get down there and up again. I was going to add the word gracefully at the end of that sentence, but it does not need that qualifier.
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Haha! Gracefully is a word that would not be applied to me, either, Sallie. We would be quite a pair, wouldn’t we? I think it would quite the adventure if we went shopping together. 🙂
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This post is delightful. Isn’t it great how life’s little challenges (no pun intended!) inspire random connections.
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Indeed, it is, LuAnne. Thank you so very much.
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