The Perils of Shopping

I've already admitted to having a leaky memory.  As in, forgetting that I returned a book I hadn't read and really wanted to read to the library.  Or losing my car keys for several hours and getting really frustrated because "I'm not that kind of person".  Or at least I never used to be that kind of person ... now I'm not so sure about that. 

I've never had a photographic memory but it's always been relatively reliable.  Now before I leave the house I make a list of everything that I need to do or pick up.  At least 50% of the time I leave the list in the house and have to try and remember everything, but somehow just writing things out helps.  Sometimes as I'm falling asleep I'll spend a bit of time figuring out where I need to go and the best way to get there, and even what I'm going to buy.  That way at least I don't spend time dithering about my route.  

Another complication I've noticed lately is that the supermarkets aren't carrying the items that I used to buy.  Or, they've changed the packaging and I don't recognize what it is because it doesn't look the same.  Even more frustrating is when they totally reorganize the entire grocery store without notice.  It's hard enough to remember what you have to buy without dealing with these random changes.  

There is nothing I hate more than reaching the checkout and paying for everything, only to realize that I forgot one critical ingredient that is absolutely necessary for the next meal.  Do I take everything out to the car and load it up, or leave the cart tucked safely into an unused checkout and dash madly through the store, cursing?  I guess that depends on how many more errands I have to run and how many frozen food items there are in the basket.  The only thing more frustrating is to get all the way home and then remember that I forgot whatever it was, or left my debit card behind.   I'm not admitting that this has ever happened to me, but if it happens to you my recommendation would be to make something else.  Unless you forgot your debit card.