Still Life with Robin: Notes of a Pre-Snow Shopper*

by Peggy Robin

 

Like practically everyone else in DC before a snowstorm, I went shopping to stock up on essentials before "the big one" arrives sometime tonight. On Thursday evening, around 5:30pm, I went to the Cathedral Commons Giant  Predictably, It was mobbed. About as crowded as it was on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving -- I'd guess -- except instead of usual holiday fare, the carts were filled with flats of bottled water, gallons of milk, loaves of bread, cartons of eggs, plenty ofcanned goods, and of course, supersized packages of toilet paper. I didn't check to see if the shelves had been emptied of Snow-Melt bags or any other snowstorm-specific items, because I'm already well-fixed in that department and didn't need to go searching for it.

 

The Giant seemed to be restocking to keep up with the demand, so I was able to buy everything on my list.

 

My impression was that shoppers were not in panic-mode...yet. They seemed  downright cheerful to me -- maybe because it's been a while since we've had a "big one," or possibly because so many shoppers were accompanied by their kids, who looked positively giddy with anticipation. So many school districts have already cancelled school on Monday.

 

The checkout lines were not too long; Giant had lots of employees working the registers or helping the self-checkout customers. (I never use self-checkout myself, as I'll inevitably find myself unable to ring something up and will become impatient while waiting for an experienced checkout clerk to rescue me.)

 

I got home on Thursday night, feeling secure in the knowledge that I have the one perfect item to see me through the storm: the makings of a really good cup of hot cocoa. 

Corner of Ashley Terrace & Highland Place, 2009. Note yardstick on the wooden bench.

* Please note: The above observations were all written on Thursday, more than 48 hours before the predicted start of the snowfall. I haven't been back to the Giant to check on things but am assuming the panic-buying has begun in earnest, and now most of the shelves are bare. I welcome updates from those who waited until today to get their pre-snow supplies.

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Still Life with Robin is posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life is Local on Saturdays.