Barefoot Memories of a Hillbilly - Convenience

Back before we (all of us) traded simplicity for "convenience," we'd take our grocery lists written on a scrap of paper bag to Ted Baldwin's store (or one of the many thousands like it) and buy our groceries for the weeks ahead. Five pound bag of sugar, check. Bag of flour and one of meal, check, check. JFG coffee cause we're collecting the coupons to get something free, check. Box of oatmeal (with the dish inside), check. Loose leaf notebook paper with the Blue Horse stamp, cause we're collecting those too. Ted would pull the pencil from behind his ear, figure it up, and Mom would reach him the dollars, and he'd reach back the change, minus a nickel of course, cause she needed a nickel poke of penny candy for the clan. He put everything in an empty cardboard box, carry it out to the vehicle, and home they'd head.A bit slower than now, but it also gave time for the locals to exchange the latest news and gossip. Yesterday's equivalent to today's social media...you know, when social media was actually social. Yep, somewhat slower, but somehow it seemed to be a bunch more sane and civilized,
Baby Sister takes me out each weekend to do my shopping and errands, usually on Saturday. However, this week we were double booked, and my shopping was done on Sunday. This is something I hate, Sunday grocery shopping is the worse! It's difficult and extremely painful for me to manage my cane, a cart and groceries, so I have become accustomed to using a mobility cart. As I carefully and cautiously drive thru the store I am stunned by the rudeness and lack of regard displayed by many, especially on Sunday. Now I understand people wanting to grab their groceries and get out to go spend Sunday's with their own kind, but that is no excuse for the kind of people we have become. "My" convenience should never top regard for others.
I am especially amazed by the 'church crowd' who come in straight from church with their church clothes on, with the Ten Commandments still ringing in their ears, who will push and shove their way as if getting to the bread or veggies first was a life or death thing. So, to clarify...Thou shalt not kill doesn't include not maiming, bruising, shoving or jumping in front of others, however, the Golden Rule is 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you', and does include the later. These aren't just guidelines. Yeah, we traded simplicity for convenience, but seems as if convenience has an awfully high price tag.

I wear shoes now, but sometimes I have barefoot memories.