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Listen to Marsha’s story as you read it (below).
Marsha peered into the refrigerator, a sigh escaping her lips. “We’re out of milk again, Bruce. And eggs.”
Bruce, engrossed in his crossword puzzle, grunted in agreement. “I’ll go to the store after my show.”
Going to the grocery store had become a major operation. It involved a twenty-minute drive each way, navigating crowded aisles with a wobbly cart, and the inevitable impulse buys that inflated their grocery bill. Gas prices weren’t helping either.
For Marsha, a simple trip for milk was becoming more like a strategic mission, not a casual errand.
“You know,” Marsha said, a glint in her eye, “Since COVID, grocery delivery services have really come into their own. You just order online, and they bring it right to your door.”
Bruce looked up from his puzzle, a skeptical eyebrow raised. “Deliveries? Like pizza? For groceries? What if they pick out bruised apples?”
But Marsha wasn’t going to forgo trying grocery delivery that easily. “No bruised apples. And no hassles. Just quick and easy.”
They signed up that afternoon. Marsha, always organized, made a meticulous list. Bruce navigated the website with an ease that surprised Marsha, adding items to their virtual cart.
She had to admit it felt strange, almost impersonal, to buy their weekly groceries without walking down the aisles, without feeling the weight of a melon in their hands.
Their delivery arrived the next day. A young woman, bright and efficient, carried sturdy bags to their doorstep. Marsha unbagged everything, her eyes scanning each item. The milk was fresh, the eggs unbroken, and the produce – surprisingly – was perfect. Better, even, than what she often picked for herself when she had very little choice.
“No impulse buys,” Bruce noted, looking at the receipt. “No extra bag of chips, no fancy cookies we don’t need.”
Marsha nodded, surprised that Bruce was seeing impulse buying as a drawback in in-person grocery shopping.
Grocery delivery worked out well for Marsha during the next few weeks because she found the necessity of going out to shop for groceries didn’t always hang over them. Yet she began to miss “‘getting out” and personally choosing her tomatoes.
Two months went by. Then, one day, Marsha walked into the kitchen wearing a jacket and carrying her purse. “I need some home-grown tomatoes,” she announced. “I’m going to the farmer’s market.”
Bruce looked up from his iPad. “The one downtown? I’ll come with you.”
Apparently Bruce was feeling the same way. Grocery delivery was convenient, Marsha reasoned to herself, but nothing could beat the satisfaction of choosing the right tomato and the perfect ear of corn – and getting out of the house and getting some fresh air.
“Good. I miss the drive,” she allowed. “And you can carry the bags.”
Also hear and read this “parent story” from 2024:
Go to “Transition’s First Steps for Trevor”
Age: Our greatest asset!
Jim Hasse, ABC, GCDF retired, author of “52 Shades of Graying”
Weekly Stories About Aging Well
“It’s impossible not to love someone whose story you’ve heard.” - Mary Lou Kownacki
Stories about addressing ageism.
Stories about handling ableism.
Stories about thriving during the second half of life.
Accolade: “Love reading your stories. You never disappoint.” - Mary K.
How to use “My Latest Legacy Nugget” resources to share
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About 15 years ago (I’m now 82), I made the transition from Canadian crutches to a walker as a mobility aid. About 15 years before that, I bought my first mobility scooter – all because I’ve had lifelong cerebral play.
The transition from crutches to walker for not-long distances was interesting because I found my walking gate was changing. Instead of walking foot-and-crutch-tip in tandem, I found myself dragging my feet – largely because I lacked the balance I had as a young man.
That sense of balance came back when I bought my first walker. My walking gait came back to what it was.
I now use my walker for short distances and formal occasions such as weddings, retirement parties and funerals and use my new scooter for long distances, which can last for miles within the Twin Cities.
Yes, Pam, my wife, and I sold our car two years ago and bought two new scooters and two new walkers. A great tradeoff!
* What have you changed in your living routine to reflect your evolving needs as a mature adult?