Hi readers. Grocery stores always make my mouth water, but I actually got started thinking about calamari at the tire store. Wandered over to the Chici Pizza Buffet, Senior Special $5, while I waited for them to mount and balance my new tire. Thought an uncomfortable amount of pizza might rid my mind of calamari.
Went to the AutoZone for brake pads, found a pair for $10 and change, mind still in orbit around calamari. Bent down for a look under the car to check out the oil leak as a precaution. Going up the hill the lower clearance because of the donut sized spare caused a rock to puncture the oil pan, so I was keeping an eye on it.
That oil pan leak’s going to be a blessing until I can lift the car and whittle a wooden plug to stick in the hole. Keeps me from having to change the oil. I’ll just add oil, top it off as it goes down. Voila. Automatic oil change constant.
Anyway, went to the HEB and bought a few essentials, actually went by the fish department to have a look at the calamari, thinking actually seeing it might help rid my mind of it. But it didn’t.
Meanwhile, I was over on the isle for bread and tortillas and a guy with a hand-carry basket walked up pretending he didn’t know his wife as she studied a shelf, took a big chuck roast out of his hand carry basket and stuck it in her backpack. Looked me right in the eye. Snake eyes.
His wife, kid in her shopping cart, edged to get around me.
“Hey man! Let me show you something! You like to barbeque?”
He gave me a what-the-hell look while I reached inside her backpack and took out the roast. “See this crap?” I held the roast out to him. “Shoplifting meat is a felony in Texas. They’ll barbeque her if they catch her.”
“Asshole!” He mumbled and turned back toward the meat section.
“You going to stick around and take care of the kid, hotshot?” I stayed on his heels. “While she’s doing time you going to change the diapers?”
He ignored me, kept walking.
Screw it.
I cashed out and headed home. Still thinking about calamari. Calamari over saffron rice. When I arrived I checked the freezer, but there wasn’t any calamari in there. Must have used the last of it sometime before Y2K. And I’ve been trying to cut down on my saffron intake. Since around Y2K, as I recall. Coincidence Coordinator thing.
Old Jules
So Far From Heaven 
You are an inspiration.
Always good to know when someone does the right thing. If she heard you maybe she will be onto him. In New Mexico, just to have it on your person is sufficient for being picked up for shop lifting. Backpacks and pockets are bad places to put merchandise. In this day and age his actions could be construed as abuse. Hope his behavior is lots better at home.
Hi Mary: In a ‘do the right thing’ world he’d be buying meat for his family, not trying to steal it, because he’d be able to afford it. The right thing got lost so far back there all that’s left is dodging the invisible steam rollers. I didn’t do any right things. I just pointed out where a steam roller was lurking in the bushes in ambush. Thanks for coming by. J
right on, Old Jules!!