Insights from an Elderly Woman at a Local Shop

It was a gorgeous day. The sun was out, and the temperature was in the high '60s. It was a perfect day to be out and about to do some errands. I had shopping and running to the local Salvation Army store on my mind. It's about time I turn in my old clothes. Might as well pick up a few things that we're out of while I'm out, too.

After I dropped off a bag of clothes at the Salvation Army store, I headed straight away to do my next errand, to do a little grocery shopping at my favorite Hannaford's supermarket, where the price is a little high on milk and sodas, but the store is closer to home, and that's convenient. Saves on gas anyway.

I went through my usual entrance, grabbed a couple things from the produce section, then made my way to the rest of the store. From the produce area I'd make a left turn I'm sure just like any other customers would, though some of us never notice this because of lack of time. I guess I have time to spare and tracking things is one of my best qualities, besides analyzing. Hey you gotta read the label before making any purchases.

Only a couple other things to pick up. Cat food, cat litter, and one other thing I'm not going to mention. Deciding on what to buy is daunting if you don't know what you're doing, but just a minute I think I heard a voice. My conscience assisting me on what to buy for cat litter?

" I used to have these Siamese cats," said an elder woman with a scarf around her head. She continues, " I found this potty and placed it over the toilet with some cat litter. The next thing I know the older cat was using the toilet instead of his litter box. And then the younger cat followed."

"How old were they when they started using it?" I asked with full attention not wanting to be rude.

She went on to tell me how old her cats were, that have been long gone. She sighed a sigh you can tell she missed the cats dearly. But that was not all that she missed.

"They have no business going to Iraq," she said, "they should be taking care of the people over here." I listened further. "There's going to be so much trouble 5 years from now. Riot, hunger, it's going to be like hell." I didn't know what to say.

"I heard it on the radio that bees are going away, so that's why our food is so expensive." She paused and reminisced about the good old days when shoe shop was open and pay per hour was 34 cents.

"Yes, I worked at the shoe shop, but for that amount of money I was able to rent, go out and eat at fine restaurants, and lived comfortably." she smiled.

I added my two cents, "I bet you didn't have to lock your doors either." I can believe the older generation had a much better life than now. Being an 85 year-old woman living alone with a child on the opposite side of the country is lonesome, so she continues to talk despite my schedule. Eventually we parted ways as strangers once more.

She complimented me for being a nice girl. After listening to her I sense her depression and told her not to listen to too much bad news. I told her also some of us that don't believe in war are trying to do what we can to stop it. If global warming or high gas prices is of any importance at all, then they should realize soon enough that either problem is effecting our children's future.