About groceries

I.

Jake and I have quite a few challenges when
it comes to how we grocery shop each week.
Things that pertain to storage space, time to

prepare food, specific nutrition needs and a

couple of years' time each living on our own
that developed deep-rooted preferences.

For instance, I love to bake and I sometimes

like to cook, but when I'm hungry ... I'm hungry.

Unless I cook ahead of time, I eat mostly fruit,

handfuls of nuts, handfuls of cereal and carrots.

(Sometimes a hunk of cheese dipped in honey.)

Jake is much more of a meal person. He'd

rather we eat more cooked food, like omelets,

pasta, soup and spinach salad. And I'd like to

make more meals, I would, it's just a matter

of time ... and being "so hungry that I have

to eat something easy right this instant!"

So when we leave the store, we view our purchases

--our ingredients for the week--

very different from one another.

Bananas for example, I see with peanut butter
as a meal and Jake sees as a snack. I make a
case for tortilla chips ever time we shop together
because I think those are snacks, and Jake thinks
they are simply unnecessary.

Usually it's just me shopping, though. And I've

learned how to take both of our ideas of what

groceries should look like and make a fine list.

Jake always thanks me and comments on my

planning and ingenuity.

But here's another thing, I take it upon myself

to carry the world on my shoulders.

Sometimes I don't buy what Jake would prefer

and sometimes he doesn't buy my argument for

tortilla chips or granola bars.

And then I feel horrible.

Really, rather dramatic for groceries, no?

But I do. I feel horrible.

When I'm afraid I've let Jake down, I also

let myself down and I feel failure.

Groceries are the perfect storm in this

marriage.

But I'm writing about them because it's

true what they say, life's biggest challenges

produce the most rewarding fruit.

The fact that we get a new chance to

try all over again each week is beautiful.

We're nearing 4 months of marriage and

I laugh whenever I realize this truth: buying

groceries has been the biggest the most

communication-inducing element of our

relationship.

I count my blessings that this benign part

of life is our most difficult trial.

I count my blessing when I think of how it's

helped us grow.

I count my blessings in the shape of a warm,

loving husband who works on things with me.

And you know what else they say,

couples who can figure out how to

grocery shop together stay together.

II.

While traveling home from the grocery store

the other day, I pathetically hobbled, weighed

down by my messenger bag of books and my

reusable bag full of groceries. I struggled

immensely to support my grocery bag from

the bottom and balance my messenger bag while

it persistently knocked the back of my knees. I

have done this before so I know a little about

manipulating bag positions ... it's an art, truly.

So while my walk was cumbersome, I managed.

And I am not writing this to brag, but instead to

mention the glance I received from an old lady

in her car. I have no idea what she was thinking,

watching me, but I myself was reminded of the

blessing it is to be able-bodied. It's amazing

that I can carry such heavy bags, that I am agile,

fit, poised and balanced. I hope to never forget

what a blessing it is to be able to move like this,

because someday I may need other people to

help me. For now I'm amazed at vital bodies!