No, you take it
She was looking for some. The stock had disappeared five minutes after the store announced its arrival. I had one small package in my cart that my family really didn’t need in the next week.
“Ma’am, if you need this, please take it. My family is fine for now,” I explained as I pushed it towards her. She explained that she, too, was okay, but was shopping for her elderly mother. She hesitated, so I said, “Please, take it. Give it to her.”
She grimaced as she said, “I don’t want to take it from you. I’ll keep looking. I’ll find it somewhere, but thank you.”
Still pushing the 4-pack of “soft and strong 2-ply” towards her, I insisted, “Please take this. She needs it. We don’t right now.”
The stranger shook her head. “It’s okay, really. I’ll find some somewhere. But thank you.” And then she smiled at me. Her forehead, which had been creased with worry when I approached her with the pack of toilet paper had smoothed as she smiled at me.
Even though she refused, the mere offer had soothed her somehow. It had soothed me, too.During the COVID-19 pandemic most of us have worried at least once that we will run out of things. For me it’s been cream, butter, meats, and foods my family enjoy most – foods that I might not be able to replenish each week as they’ve grown accustomed.
Already I’ve begun to eat the foods they don’t like such as homemade chicken liver and bacon pâté from my freezer, as well as pesto that I made in double and quadruple batches and froze last fall. I worry they will want for something. Is the pantry full ‘enough’?
But as I stood in the store trying to force toilet paper on a stranger who was unwilling to deprive me of it, I felt confident that while our favorites might not always be available, we would always have enough.It is the power of the compassion of the human spirit that reveals itself most during times like these. Yes, there were people with three or more packs of toilet paper pushing carts right by us, but we were two strangers looking out for each other.
The encounter reassured me that when there’s one last 4-pack, there will still also be someone willing to share.
The pantry is indeed full enough.
Earlier
Wishin’ won’t make it so
Coronavirus has canceled life as we know it – closed shops, sparse shelves, and schools shuttered, but maybe this is an opportunity for us all.
I go out to local nature area and watch for signs of spring. Very calming. I saw a loon this morning. Rare here. On its way north. Stopped to give me a calming moment I’m sure. 😁
I do criticise however an article called “Today I argued with a stranger in the grocery store over toilet paper.” being published on this platform. This is not Readers’ Digest after all.
I’m aware all of us can take some uplifting and kind, even funny stories right now. I’ve been insulted by a complete stranger today who passed me by on his bike, yelling “Yeah, eat that paper.”, because I was carrying three packages of toilet paper - one for my neighbours with two toddlers, one for my parents (77 and 80 years old), and indeed one for us.
There, an anecdote about toilet paper in times of Corona. And you visited this website because of that? Or because you were curious about a recipe with canned fish, because you are tired of eating plain sardines? Or what you could do to minced beef so it doesn’t get boring?
I like Kristie, I like her input, I increasingly don’t get the choice of articles on this website though.
Thank you for your feedback. Kristie's gift that she brings to her articles is to share everyday stories and write them in a way that everyone can relate. Right now, in times of stress, it's heartwarming to see stories of caring and human kindness. For the recipes and stocking lists and how to stay prepared and stay keto, we have many articles of that nature as well. In fact, here's a link to a recipe collection Kristie collaborated on this past week as well.
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/recipes/the-ultimate-stay-at-home...
Diet Doctor advertises as follows:
“Welcome to the world’s largest keto and low-carb site, where we do things differently. We show no ads, take no industry money, and sell no products. Ever. We are doctors, dietitians, and other experts here to help you dramatically improve your health. Join us!”
I do not pay fees to get access to pastoral care.
If this were a free website, do as you please. Be my guest and install ‘philantropic ketogenic anonymous’ groups.
This website is outstanding in its quality, people have expectations when they join you.
Toilet paper etiquette is not one of them. Unless there will be a survey amongst the members, where the hoarders will be cut off the website during quarantine, and the ‘good’ sharers will be praised, and those who praise themselves in an article will be published.
When I visit the website of BMJ or Lancet, I do not expect the editor-in-chief to tell me about his struggle to keep tv-time moderate for his children, who can’t go to school currently.