A trip to Fresh Thyme Farmer’s Market has, in the past, always been quite enjoyable. COVID 19 concerns have changed all that. Now, instead of a leisurely midday meander, our trips begin before the break of dawn. We have worked hard to simplify the process — a mere 20 minutes— from John’s alarm going off to being ready to walk out the door. We’re not at our best, but in truth, the only apparel required and admired at that hour of the morning is a mask! No makeup, no fuss…just get up and out.
We have come to appreciate the ‘senior hours’ offered by many grocers and merchants, protecting the ‘most vulnerable’ by allowing them to shop when the supplies are abundant, the crowds the leanest and the store the cleanest. This morning, arriving on the late side at 7:15 am, we had only 45 minutes until the store officially opened. Expedient efficiency kicked in. John would get the almond butter and the Boarshead sliced turkey from the deli. I would grab the lettuces, fresh veggies and the makings for a chicken delight casserole, a family favorite. I would make it for the kids over the weekend when Meg works. We should be able to be in and out of the store in less than 30 minutes. How strange to think of quickly getting through our shopping experience. Traditionally it had been very different!
The truth is, shopping at Fresh Thyme had become a shared experience that we thoroughly enjoyed. We like the quality of food, the selection of organic veggies, grass fed meats and chemical free packaged foods. Best of all, we have found the employees of Fresh Thyme a delight. One of my favorites, a sparkly-eyed African American lady with a contagious smile has often welcomed us warmly. Last Thanksgiving, as I pondered the challenge of making stuffing for 40 people, she taught me the wonders of baking Corn Bread Stuffing in a crock pot! I followed her directions and it was wonderful! Each visit, I look forward to her smile and kind words of encouragement. Today, however, my sparkly friend was masked and focused on the work at hand. I definitely missed that smile!
In fact, today, everyone was masked. Shopping carts have become a coat of arms guaranteeing a minimum spacing for all. Meeting another set of cautious eyes in an aisle now gives one pause, each approaching the other as ‘the enemy’. No words are shared — little eye contact made. A sense of ‘unwelcome’ fills the air. If it is necessary to push your cart around another, the journey is made in the widest circumference possible, turning your head away, protecting your most vulnerable ports of contagion. If you approach another in a narrow aisle, rather than squeeze past, one often turns around, backs up, planning to hit the rest of that aisle on return from the backside. It is an exercise of total self absorption and a very unfriendly experience. How things have changed!
While checking out, we thanked the cashier for coming in two hours early to make these ‘special hours’ available for our safety. It certainly did make shopping safer, a bit sterile though it may now be. And we are the first to assert that this wonderful company is doing everything it possibly can to look out for its patrons!
All groceries now in the car, hands cleansed with an antiseptic wipe and masks removed, John and I both breathed a sigh of relief in duet. “Don’t forget to clean the credit card” he teased. As we drove by a shuttered Starbucks, both lost in our own thoughts, I thought of the days when a stop there would have made our morning complete. Of course to enjoy that delight in the midst of COVID would require a major antibacterial wipe down before you could put your cuffed cup to your mouth to taste that first full-bodied sip.
On second thought, “Let’s just go home and make some coffee.”