Daily Notes- March 25th

                                        

Good Morning.  As if it there wasn't enough STRESS to go around- I got knocked for a huge loop yesterday when I went to the Pharmacy and was told they do not have any inhalers to fill prescriptions.  Seems that last week a wave of people who had unfilled (for a long time) prescriptions for inhalers decided they needed to fill them.  Wiped out the supply chain. Echos of the Toilet Paper thing. Hoarding.  Re-selling at a profit. The worst sort of human behavior.

I am not proud of this but the fragility of my systems gave way and I stood in front of the Pharmacist crying. Not to invite sympathy.  I just had no borders left.  There are a few days left on the inhaler I am using twice a day.  I usually order my next one when I get down to one week.  Each day I am to call at 1pm to ask if they have an inhaler for me.  I am NOT to assume they will have one in time. They will TRY to find something to give me.

Thank goodness I had already chosen my few grocery items.  I don't think I would have been able after hearing the bad news. I did, thankfully, choose some Ben and Jerry's ice cream and that bag of Fritos my daughter told me not to buy.

I got down on the floor in the beans section to find the last 8 bags of brown lentils all the way back against the wall on the bottom shelf.  I scooped them forward so other shoppers could see them and bought only one.  And pulled forward other items as well while down there. I had done that early in the pandemic to bring forward boxes of oatmeal.  Not every person in their 70's can get down on the floor and then back up and we like lentils and oatmeal.

And perhaps I was stupid to get down when I am never sure I will be able to get back to a standing position. I just didn't think about that.  I should.  With distancing.....I wouldn't expect any help.

I bought a lovely head of escarole in the produce section and will be making a favorite soup of mine.  I looked for and found the recipe in the card box.  I took the card with me to Florida one February long ago and set a pot of it simmering.  The home owner (we were guests) and his adult daughter (I had know her since she was 2) exclaimed "beans and greens" and ate every speck.  I was reminded of that day when I selected the escarole. I will remember it as I eat my soup.

I am washing my hands (often) with a small bar of French soap I found in the back of a drawer.  So creamy and just the very faintest fragrance.  A whisper.  And it is not making my hands dry- they feel smooth and soft.  So, I wash my hands more often.

Have a good day my friends out there where ever you are.  The sun is shining here in Maine.