The grocery store will never run out of cucumbers, and other things I take for granted.

 

The grocery store will never run out of cucumbers. Whenever I go to the grocery store, there will always be cucumbers.

I had a list and I was going to execute my list. Milk, eggs, cucumbers, lettuce and fish heads.

Cucumbers were on my list. I walked in the door of the store expecting to buy cucumbers. I didn’t worry the night before when I went to bed. Oh, I hope they will have cucumbers tomorrow. I won’t be able to sleep worrying about the cucumber supply. 

When I walked over to the cucumber basket in the produce section, my world was shattered. The rug was pulled out from under my feet, and I was bowled over. Can you think of any other clichés that you should never use in writing, that I could use here?

Never in my life have I been more shocked, or surprised. In all of my fifty-five years of living, the grocery store has always had cucumbers. I have never been in a grocery store that did not have cucumbers. Growing up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, the Safeway always had cucumbers. In Calgary, Alberta, Safeway always had cucumbers. ( Saskatchewan, and Alberta are in Canada, in case you didn’t know.)

On Kibbutz Reshafim in Israel there were always cucumbers.

In Tokyo, Japan there were always cucumbers in the grocery store.

Lemoore, Monterey, Carmel and Fort Ord, California always had cucumbers in the grocery stores and Farmers Markets. Schnucks in Swansea, Illinois had cucumbers. The Rainbow Grocery Store in Saint Paul, Minnesota had cucumbers.  ( Those places are in the United States, in case you didn’t know.) And even in Middlefart, Denmark, and Horby Sweden, I saw cucumbers in the store.

Redners Grocery Store in Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania always had cucumbers until . . .  last night.

If there could be a world where my grocery story might not have cucumbers, could there be other things in my life I was taking for granted?

The grocery store will never run out of cucumbers and
other things I take for granted

First lets define: take for granted– To expect something to be available all the time and forget that you are lucky to have it. (Thank you: dioms.thefreedictionary.com/take+for+granted )

1. The grocery store will never run out of cucumbers.
2. I will always have clean water to drink.
3. When I need toilet paper, there will always be some under the bathroom sink.
4. When the sun rises I will be here to see it rise.
5. There are books in a library that I can borrow.
6. When I put on my shoes I will have feet.
7. My hands will always be able to type on the keyboard.
8. When I dial my mother’s phone number she will always answer.
9. I can buy milk in a store and I don’t have to own a cow.
10. I will always have teeth to brush.
11. And the biggest thing I take for granted? My freedom.

Sometimes it takes an empty cucumber basket in the store to see I take a lot of things for granted. Things I should wake up every day and say thank you for.

Today, Memorial Day, I remember the men and woman who died while serving in The United States Armed Forces. And I say, “Thank you to all who are serving now.”

I am grateful

What about you?
Is there something in your life you take for granted?

Please tell me in the comments. I would love to chat.