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Hannaford’s in Greenwich being unable to supply the gluten-free item I prefer, we went off on Friday to try our luck in Bennington.
While weather often changes rapidly and can vary much over short distances, we were surprised by the rather strange sky in Vermont.
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There was a storm coming, but it wasn’t that.
It was more like some sort of localised funk.
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A small cluster of dirty clouds.
Most un-Vermont like.
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No doubt a meteorologist could explain it.
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But it was strange.
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Bennington Hannaford’s had what we needed, but the store was in some sort of turmoil.
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Many shelves were almost empty and we wondered at first if it was evidence of panic-buying again, given the uncertainty of things in general at the moment.
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But apart from that, it became obvious that the store was being re-arranged, hard for a supermarket to do while remaining open for business.
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That store usually has a pleasantly calm vibe, so to find it so disturbed was discombobulating!
Grant got in a queue for check out, sending me to wait in the car and as I walked out I noticed that a large area is now dedicated to self-check out counters.
Why employ people?
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Employing people is problematic, but unemployed people are even more so.
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We escaped the strange funk over Bennington and headed back to New York where the sky was still clear.
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As I had for once gone into Hannford’s, I’d made a point of checking prices, just as a matter of interest.
Shocker.
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The Jolly Green Giant wants $2 for a can of peas.
For example.
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Even the cheap brand was $1.59.
A dozen eggs were over $7.
And for a small lump of meat they wanted $30.
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$30 seems extortionate, yet I cannot imagine the expense of raising and maintaining a herd of cattle.
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Grant chose chicken instead. He makes curry or bakes it and the cats enjoy some as a change from canned food.
As a vegetarian, my choices are limited, particularly as I am lactose intolerant and must avoid gluten.
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Additionally, I do not like cooking, which was never much of an issue as there are plenty of microwave meals on offer, now at fancy prices.
The selection was greatly reduced recently when I discovered that a huge percentage of them contain garlic which seriously disagrees with me.
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Garlic, it seems, is added like salt – which I don’t like either!
One way and another, feeding myself has become an absolute pain.
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It’s not that I am fussy. Years ago I could eat anything, though I drew the line at brains and muscles or blood pudding and one or two exotic items I’ve sometimes been offered.
Shudder.
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Back then, lactose was the only intolerance I was aware of and it is dealt with easily enough.
But in 1991, I suddenly decided I would never again accept an animal, bird or fish dying on my behalf.
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It came to me out of the blue and I was shocked that it had taken so long, given how dearly I had always loved animals and birds.
There have been a handful of occasions since when I have eaten meat or fish, when I’ve been invited out and didn’t want to be a nuisance or make a fuss.
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At such times, I’ve said a silent thank you to the creature on my plate which I comfort myself by believing did not die specifically for me.
Some would call that a cop-out, but the argument works for my conscience.
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While I really, really hate that animals die to feed us, I do realise how impossible it would be sustain the human population on plants alone.
There are those who love to argue that plants are living which is also true, of course.
And then there is the issue of my cats, which are certainly not vegetarian. I buy their food which may be in conveniently disguised cans, but those contain meat, fish and poultry.
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Maybe it’s better just not to think too much.
Thinking can get you in a lot of trouble.
Every bit helps and you don’t have to be perfect and yes we when it comes to cats it’s nature red in tooth and claw not that domestic cats are “nature” and can’t be vegan although they can be gluten-free and non GMO but there we go off thinking again and our lives are full of contradictions and good intentions but the good intentions are always better than the bad ones so there we have it.
Or not.
Thinking is definitely bad for you. Even more so now!
Thank you, Carolyn, for today’s philosophical musing, the sky photos, and your vegetarian view which is the same as mine because I don’t eat anything with a pulse before it is served.
Joanna
I became lactose intolerant a couple of years ago, but I found a tablet on Amazon that allows me to eat cheese without an upset stomach. I use it sparingly, but it does work. I could not be vegetarian, but we do occasionally eat fish, and as I do all the shopping and 99% of the cooking, I am usually happy with our dinners. A dozen large eggs here cost around £.20, much cheaper than your $7. The best way to force the supermarkets to open checkouts is to refuse to use self-checkouts. I refuse to use them, and there has been something of a revolution against them in the UK.
Best wishes, Pete.
*Eggs are £3.20 for 12, it missed off the 3.
Oh my word, your groceries are expensive! We buy a dozen eggs every other week and I always thought it was quite expensive ($3.00), but after seeing your prices, I’ve decided I won’t complain again. I admire you who have been a vegetarian for such a long time … I think I’ll be able to cut meat out of my diet, but chicken and fish make such delicious meals.
It’s thanks to out new government, despite their promises. Too bad so many believed!