Electica wrote about the first time she bought a car.
This reminded me of a first for me when I was quite old.
I was 80 years old the first time bought groceries. Yes, I went with the Micro manager for years as the cart pusher, but I never actually shopped and bought the groceries.
No mother of a farm boy was going to send her son to town to get groceries . So I didn't buy groceries while I lived at home. At the time I was growing up we did not buy very many groceries as we prepared our own food. We had all our own meat from the farm. Our vegetables were limited by the time we could store them.
When I left home to go to school, I boarded so I did not have to buy groceries. One land lady I had would phone her order into the store and I would pick it up for her.
Then when I went to the Arctic we were given rations. In other words we were given enough food to last us a year. These rations were prepared for someone who didn't have a store that they could buy groceries from. I remember my rations came in two huge boxes that would fill the back of a pick up truck.
So recently it was taking the Micro Manger a long time and much effort to buy groceries. One day I finally said , "You're not buying anymore groceries. "
And that's it. I bought all the groceries from then on. The Micro Manager makes a list and I shop.
How do I like buying groceries? It's great. It was a learning experience that was good for me.
Are you like I am and have to investigate lots of different products? or do you just buy tried and true? (the more sensible way to shop)
ReplyDeleteWas it hard to manage a years worth of rations?
nobody usually blogs about grocery shopping but we all do it!
I stick to the standard stuff. You know I should write about the rations bit.
DeleteI was coming here from kylie's blog to ask you why you did not buy groceries until you were 80. Now, I know. I can see why.
ReplyDeleteI think very ew men have bought groceries and that shouldn't be. there's much more going on than just buying groceries.
DeleteWhat a great tale! I haven't done groceries regularly in years!
ReplyDeleteThe Micro Manager was adamant about buying groceries. I didn't have any input other than pushing the cart.
DeleteHubby and I always shop together, we are done quickly. Have a happy weekend.
ReplyDeleteGreat that you share buying groceries. I'll bet you contact each other by phone when you're shopping.
DeleteThat's an interesting story. I will try to think of the first time I did something like that. Hmmm.
ReplyDeleteWe have many first's. Some are early in life and some much later.
DeleteRoger and I go grocery shopping together all the time. We have a routine that works pretty well... as long as we have our shopping list for the day.
ReplyDeleteI have to have a list and pen to write things down. I need to write things down or I'm lost.
DeleteI remember the time that I went someplace with my mother. She had to be in her sixties. I worked nights, and so I dozed off in the car coming home. She woke me up with a worried look on her face. We were at a gas station, and she'd never pumped her own gas before. "Do you know how to do it?" she asked. I got out and pumped her gas. I tried to show her, but she said, "Your father or your brother pumps my gas." That astonished me then. It astonishes me still.
ReplyDeleteGood story and I can believe that it was true.
DeleteIn retirement, I have become the grocery shopper. Sue hates it, and I don’t mind at all, so that’s what we do.
ReplyDeleteGood that you can make trades and accommodate each other.
DeleteI enjoyed reading this. Amazing that you got groceries to last for the whole year. Hubby does all the shopping now. He gets around better than I do these days. Not being a farm boy, his mother started him doing the shopping when he was young, as she would send him and his brother to the store every day. She would always give them a nickel to buy an ice cream or a soda at the diner. So now he does all the shopping and enjoys it like you do.
ReplyDeleteThere are many good ways to share activities and they work well.
DeleteMy wife and I shop together with a list of what we both want and then quickly get it and checkout, We are out of the store in less than 30 minutes. We both hate shopping but we got a system that works well for us.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that you both think alike on the grocery buying task.
DeleteWhat a unique life you have led. And how great to have something new to experience in your "advanced years"!
ReplyDeleteI also did a paper route in my mid 60's and that did a lot for my self esteem and I certainly got lots of visiting in.
DeleteI sometime order online and just pick it up! I wish I could just shop and not cook:)
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure about shopping on line. I like to touch stuff.
DeleteWhat a great story, Red! Amazing that you never shopped for groceries yourself before you were 80. Come to think of it, tho, I don't remember my Dad ever doing the grocery shopping either!! :)
ReplyDeleteI don't think very many men shop for groceries.
DeleteI always admired you for realizing the Micro Manager needed help.
ReplyDeleteThe Micro Manger is very independent and sometimes doesn't want to face reality.
ReplyDeleteI do not like buying groceries unless I am in a creative cooking mood. it has gotten so expensive that I feel so wasteful buying so much for just two people.
ReplyDeleteGreat that you could take over the shopping! Well done!
ReplyDeleteI have to shop, but tend to only pick up a few items at a time, and I don't really cook.
ReplyDelete