I had a great laugh during shopping. Feels like it's been a really long time since I belly-laughed with a stranger. And it all happened grocery shopping.
Standing before a great mountain of yellow onions, in what will prove to be an ill-fated move, I dither about whether to get this onion or that onion, attempting to select a very firm candidate. Instantly, the entire top layer rolls toward the bottom of the slanted display.
Apparently, an onion avalanche can be triggered by selecting a key onion from the center. In horror, I spread my arms and prostrate myself over as many as possible to stem the tide and, oddly, recall the email we received from the store asking us to limit touching anything we don’t intend to buy. And now, I’m stuck in some sort of strange homage to the onion god, bowing before the artfully lettered “Yellow Onions, $0.69/lb.” sign at the top of the display.
An older gentleman in a cowboy hat with a black bandana as his mask (I kid you not) who had been minding his own business over by the bell peppers quickly rushes over, not caring a whit for his own safety, and breaches the 6 foot barrier to render aid.
The Lone Ranger quickly stabilizes the lower edge of the display and manages to corral runaway onions as I gradually extricate myself. Together we pick up the half dozen onions on the floor and carefully put them back on the display. We are both quick learners about what works and build a berm of sorts with the biggest onions at the bottom.
Me: “Thank you, thank you!!
Lone Ranger: “That’s the first time I’ve seen that happen outside of a movie!”
Me: “I know that’s the first time I’ve done it!” I back up 6 feet and offer the now universal “Namaste” gesture and, “Thanks again for your help!”
Moral of the story: Round produce in a slanted display can be unstable and there can be good, kind people around such displays.
