Wandering the Aisles

Mom and I checked out a grocery store in our neighborhood that recently opened. The new Shop-n-Save has a LARGE produce section, aisles for ethnic food (mainly Polish and Mexican style items), and uses about a dozen loss leaders to get you into their store. The loss leaders are so huge that you just have to come in and take a look! That's what happened to us; we got pulled in by the marketing.

Mom likes to push the cart when we're shopping. She needs a place for her purse as her arm muscles are weakening. She also uses the cart for balance and stability as her leg muscles grow weaker. Fine with me as it's less for me to worry about.

I already know that we're going to proceed slowly through the store; that's just how an 83 year old woman moves and I just keep pace with Mom and deal with it. However, other shoppers do not know that my Mother moves as slowly as molasses in January. They do not know that she cannot see or hear them approach her from behind while she is strolling slowly down the middle of the aisle. She does not realize that she is blocking the path for those unfortunate enough to be stuck behind her. Her diminishing senses keep her from realizing that there are people who want to get past her.

Sometimes I find it necessary to intervene. I can tell how impatient some people are and just want to yell at her to MOVE. So I try to guide her over to the side of the aisle to let those anxious folks pass. Mom remains oblivious. Even as I'm trying to steer her and the cart over, she just doesn't comprehend what I'm doing. It's at these times when I might say something to those anxious people. Something like "It's much easier on all of us if she just does her thing and we maneuver around her."

Some people are really nice about all of this. I get LOADS of comments like "I understand your situation completely!" or "I deal with that also!". Other times, I just get dirty looks. Some people just don't understand what it's like to age and slow down. It's not like Mom wants to do this. It's just the aging process.

My message? Let's all gain some tolerance. Dig deep for a little kindness. Someday, it just may be YOU that's wandering the aisles!