Part 2: Chapter 6

The Crab

Sunday, April 19, 2020

	Inspired by Paul’s parenting techniques and in need of some celebratory supplies for the twin’s birthdays tomorrow, venture to the market after watching church service online. Have decided to purchase a crab to allow Opal to face her fears of crustaceans. Wish I could get a huge crab at the Asian markets, but suspect they will be shut down because this virus originated in China. Realize this is nonsensical, but don’t want to make the long drive to Buena Park to find out otherwise, and I don’t trust info on the internet these days. Go instead to my local Hispanic market Vallarta, which frequently has non-typical food.
	Had thought about bringing the children along for the excursion but Vallarta has recently put up signs that ask shoppers to limit group sizes to two. Wonder what people are doing who can’t leave their children at home. What about the people who can’t afford delivery service? What about the lower-income families of Dianne’s students? 
	Vallarta is the best grocery store around these days. Just so long as I don’t go during morning senior hour, there’s never a line to get in. Have seen Costco lines on friend’s Facebook posts wrapping clear around the block. Other stores have run out of toilet paper and Purelle and Clorox wipes. After the initial TP rush, Vallarta has been able to stay stocked with almost everything except Maseca, which is corn flour. Who the heck is making tamales at an incredible rate?
	At the seafood counter, find a pathetically small blue crab that looks like it's at death’s door and then make my regular purchases before heading out. Find it funny that the checker will bag my groceries with their sturdy plastic bags, but if I bring back those bags, the checker won’t touch them because they might be contaminated. Seems this discourages people from bringing their reusable bags, which the state of California requires all grocery stores to provide. Thanks to COVID we are now generating more plastic waste for the landfill. Way to go California!
	True, the sturdier bags have cleared the parking lots of flimsy plastic bag waste. But now the parking lot is littered with discarded face masks and latex gloves. What a strange time this is.