Awkward Moments In Grocery Stores
Maybe I was assuming too much. Or too little, depending on your perspective. After taking Mr. Moles for his daily river swim, David and I stopped in at the grocery store where I was immediately hit with some serendipitous inspiration. Texture pictures for the challenge! Excited to now have a literal warehouse of potentially good shots, I earnestly went about photographing the items you see on this page.
Given that this is a small town, I probably shouldn’t have been surprised that taking random shots of fresh produce might result in a few sideways glances and puzzled looks. That is until the aggressively nosy elderly woman in the puke green rayon twin set approaches, the one who has been staring at me with a look normally reserved for creepy camera snapping playground pervs.
“Excuse me! Are you here from the health department?”
Her question takes me a bit off guard. Though I really don’t know why it should, since my Birkenstock laden feet, camo cargo shorts, and fleece jacket simply scream health department food inspector. On second thought, this is a small town.
Smiling, I try to explain. “Oh no, just grabbing a few pictures. Sorry if I alarmed you.”
“Alarmed, no. Those guys must be in here at least three times a week.”
I consider that for a moment before responding. “Good to know. I’ll avoid the fish.”
“Fish? What do you mean? What the hell’s wrong with the fish?”
She stares at me as if I‘m sprouting three heads before shaking hers, then shuffles away. No doubt in search of her party pack size metamusil, or perhaps another random stranger to intrude on and question.
Though I still won’t be buying the fish!
Allan Rae is a former flight paramedic, utilizing both his medical and creative writing backgrounds as a qualitative health researcher examining HIV stigma through community and personal narratives. He is the editorial director of C(G) and the photo publication SNAPSHOTS. Satire, Starbucks, and stray dogs do not displease him. He shares his home in Canada with his partner David and their dog Mr. Moles.
