Hell: when you run into someone you know at the supermarket
Adeline loves food, lots of it and often, both at home and out. Usually that goes well, but sometimes it doesn’t. In the series Eddie’s food annoyances, she shares her bewilderment. This time, her annoyance is food-related: running into people you know while grocery shopping.
There’s one gi-gan-tic advantage to my temporary residence in Scheveningen. I don’t know anyone here. And if you don’t know anyone, it’s almost impossible to run into someone you know at a supermarket. I love that. Nothing is worse than small talk while doing your grocery shopping.
Avocado squeezer
It usually happens with someone you have absolutely nothing interesting to say to either. You’re innocently squeezing an avocado (yes, I’m one of those people), when you have to say a semi-enthusiastic hello to another avocado squeezer you know but would rather not talk to. With a really good friend, you just call out: no time, I have to go, see you Monday. Not so with ‘the acquaintance’ you haven’t spoken to in – not without reason – a thousand years.
You both know you’re there
That’s why I do everything publicly permissible to prevent this. Looking at the floor in the hope that the other person will do the same. You both know you’re there, but if you both deny it, you don’t exist to each other. I always take a quick look down an aisle first, so I can still dash to the next one. And I always zone out a little while grocery shopping. If you’re already pretending you’re not present, I also think you’re less visible. Which is of course nonsense when that nasty neighbor sees you, but leave me be.
Supermarket vs. pub
In the past (you know, that time that keeps getting further away) I lived on an island. On this isolated piece of land, you knew everyone. As a result, it was goddamn impossible to walk through the supermarket unnoticed. I can still see myself diving into the shelf filled with long-life drinks to avoid my grandparents’ neighbor. Not because she was such an unpleasant person, but I don’t do grocery shopping for the socializing. I’ll go to the pub for that.
It’s a fine line, by the way, because I miss people I know from my favorite delicatessen when they’re not there. But I go crazy when Rachel from Pilates suddenly stands next to me at the counter. She belongs lying on some complicated machine in the studio, not at my favorite Greek shop where they sell those damn delicious pitas.
Thank God for my favorite supermarket’s home delivery service.
Also read:
- Eddie’s food annoyances: being almost too afraid to order ‘regular’ yogurt
- Eddie’s food annoyances: those restaurants where you get far too much food
- Why some people shouldn’t be allowed to use a self-checkout
