Christmas and Lockdown

When a provincial lockdown is announced on Christmas week, which even in normal times is always a busy shopping week, this is what you see at the grocery store at 7:50AM.

That's right! Lockdown will begin right after Christmas and probably last for 4 weeks. While grocery stores like ours will remain open, they will be limited to 50 customers if I understand correctly. 

While the new rules aren't in effect just yet, I joined the line 10 minutes before the eight o'clock opening to try to be sure to be within the first 50 shoppers. Thus I could count on getting inside relatively quickly, for it is winter after all which makes protracted waiting time rather unappealing. When I saw the line I estimated that there were fewer than 50 customers in it, so I joined.  

The line in front of me

I was back near the road, but people kept coming and coming and lining up behind me.

Once the doors were opened, we moved along right smartly, and I was soon inside. I asked the manager who was counting at the door what number I was -- 41. I had estimated well.

When I first joined the line, I texted the above photos to the family, and Shauna asked if, given the situation, I would also pick up ingredients for her Christmas lasagna. Of course, I would, and so she texted her list. That left me sorting through two lists as I ambled about what quickly became a pretty crowded store. Two lists would be a challenge because my poor little brain finds it difficult enough to work through a single list. However, I managed to fill both of the lists well with some back and forthing throughout the store. Of course, one-way asiles made the task even more burdensome when I had to backtrack every time I missed something.

Speaking of backtracking, I was all done except for the ricotta cheese but realized that it was way back on the other side of the store by the produce section and not in the dairy section. So back I went resignedly.

Overall, I would say that I settled in well and to some extent almost enjoyed the challenge. The crowds were what they were with everybody masked and rather calmly going about their business, so it went pretty smoothly all things considered.

But since it had taken me quite a long time to get all of the goods corralled into my burgeoning cart, by the time I hit the lineup, it stretched up one asile and down another. This was before it even reached the normal collecting area.

Up one aisle

Down the next aisle

But all of the cashiers were at their stations, and the lineup moved along at a pretty good pace.

I had already decided to use our accumulated points for the Christmas order, and they came in extra handy considering that I was adding Shauna's order to our already big order.Therefore, I ended up paying only $8 on a $238 order, so was rather grateful and  will consider the outing a successful part of Christmas.

However, I have already booked a spot for Express Pickup for the pre New Year shopping next Tuesday because the lockdown will be in full effect, and then we will also have the New Year rush for provender. To secure a pickup time, I have put a few things on the list for now and chosen a pickup time. This has reserved me a spot, and over the week, we can contemplate all that we really need, and I can add those items to the list up until Monday. The procedure should work well, just as it did back during the first wave.

By the way, when I left the store, the lineup was just as long as when I had entered, and I was glad that I had arrived early.

Now, Sue and I are able to take a few days to relax and gather ourselves before the kids visit on Christmas Day.