OK. I admit, the title's a little dramatic. But, it's the truth. Within the past hour, I almost died for milk.
Here's what happened. At approximately 11:17 a.m., I went to Price Chopper (a.k.a. "the Chopper") for a list of stuff. I didn't actually have a written list, but, if I did have one, milk would have been written somewhere near the top. Right after salad in a bag and yougurt and before bananas.
Anyway, the store was mobbed - on a Tuesday morning! I try to park next to one of the cart corrals, but this morning, I had to park at least 6 spaces away. Then, before I could go into the store, I had to wait at least 30 seconds at a crosswalk for traffic to clear. And then, when I got into the store, there were no big carts available. Usually, there are at least 50, I'd say. But today, none. So, I had to settle for a little basket. Which meant that, had I written down a list, T.P. would have been crossed off the bottom of it as I walked in the door.
OK. So, I'm finally in the Chopper, basket in hand. Before I can walk the 5 yards to the bags of salad, I realize that I couldn't find a cart because they're all in use. By old people. I don't know if the Social Security checks came today or it was triple coupons for seniors or what. I don't know. But, for some reason, at least 3 out of 4 shoppers were old. And, every one of them had a cart. And, by the time I got to the dairy aisle, all those carts were parked in front of the yougurt.
Fast forward to the checkout line which, all things considered, went well. The woman in front of me did not even need a price check. Although, there was a brief scare when, as she was moving away, and after my stuff was already being rung up, the woman realized she had forgotten to pay for a bag of pretzels! Seems she opened them to keep the toddler quiet. Anway, the checkout ladies took care of it at another register. So, no harm, and I guess I should give the woman props for being honest.
Now, I'm ready - really ready - to leave the store. I'm out the door and back at the crosswalk. I stop momentarily, but realize that there are other people in the crosswalk, so I go ahead. On my right, I see a car approaching. I can see that it's a little old lady in a big brown boat of a car. She has a stop sign. Then, I realize that she's not looking at the stop sign and it doesn't look like she's going to stop! So, I stopped - right in the middle of the crosswalk - and watched as the old lady in her big brown boat of a car sailed right on by. As she passed, she was looking to her right, so not only did she not see the stop sign, I don't think she ever saw me!
And that is how I almost died for milk.
Note to self - avoid the Chopper on Tuesdays.