And The Flag Was Still There

I went to the supermarket against my best intuition. Those last five items on the Thanksgiving shopping list in retrospect were not all that important. I generally take the bike, however it was a dark and stormy night. Yes probably the oldest foreshadowing adage of winter nights gone by. And it started raining harder as I pulled into the parking lot of the local chain grocery store.

My mind really was not into this trip to the grocery store. I was going through the motions.

For reasons stated previously, I actually parked on the road adjacent to the parking lot. I grabbed my shopping bag, and started planning the mad dash, avoiding the increasingly wild elements, to the grocery store. The car beeped at me as I got out and I simply ignored it. I have had this car for years, and I pretty much should know why the car is beeping. Well that is what I told my self. To be quite honest the car and I are going through a trial separation. I simply do not drive all that much and the Matrix is probably feeling pretty neglected. I have neglected to feel what she needs during these surreal pandemic times.

Shopping was a non event hidden by the smile hidden by the vibrant mask I wore into the store. I purchased my wife’s beloved egg whites, jicama and vegan slices that alluded me on days previous. I declined the offer to contribute the extra spare change on my bill. I never liked this scheme as the shopper contributes some small amount and Safeway makes the contribution to a great cause through a gross of millions little subtle contributions.

And of course the tax deduction.

And about a minute later I was punished for my transgression of sorts It was raining much harder when I left the store. The rain had the same insistent intensity as an hour before, but now the raindrops were less scattered about. In my mad dash back to the car I noticed my hamstrings were tight from my run a few hours earlier. Also, the lights on my car were still on.

I thought, or at least should have thought I was only in the store for ten minutes. Whet damage could be done. That battery got lazy and less functional during the pandemic and I had failed to plan accordingly.

I put my one bag on the passenger seat and gently put the key in the ignition. The wipers started swishing and Kai Ryssdal spewed Market Place wisdom. The stock market was going to fine with joe Biden running the show.The battery had enough juice to get these going but not quite enough to turn over the motor.