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Choose asparagus, choose shampoo, choose life

My mother used to abhor grocery shopping.

Maybe because she always had to do the shopping by herself (my dad worked and she ran the household). Maybe because when she shopped it was always for a household of anything between 8 and 12 people at any given time – it’s no mean feat to manoeuvre two trolleys in supermarket aisles, folks. Maybe because when she had to go to the store, she always had either tantrum-throwing toddlers or sullen-faced teens in tow.

I’m guessing her main reason for hating it though, was probably the sheer repetitiveness of it. I’m sure you all know very well how utterly exhausting it is to keep a household ticking over. 

Yet, even with all of that in mind, I have developed an extreme fondness for grocery shopping. No other shopping, mind. I still can’t stand clothes or shoe shopping and you’d still have to threaten me with a molten pitchfork to get me anywhere near a market. But dump me in your standard, brightly lit, wide-aisled supermarket and I’m happy as Larry.

Seriously, I can’t get enough of it.

If I am forced to shop to clothe and shod myself I plan every outing with military precision. Shock and awe, ladies.

But when I shop for general daily necessities I can wander around your normal Pick 'n' Pay for hours. I obviously have a few staples that I stick by, but for the rest, it’s open season. I hardly buy the same thing twice. I stand and deliberate over those shower foam pompom things for minutes. I smell every single melon. I gently fondle all the avocados. I can lose myself in the World of Cheese.

Every time I go to a store I stare at the tinned button mushrooms for ages. So far I’ve managed not to buy them, because ew, and yet I stop by the shelf every time just to make sure I'm not missing out.

And toiletries! I can’t tell you how much I adore Clicks. I pore over the latest creams and shampoos. I compare the wattage of snackwich makers, blenders and hairdryers. I choose a different type of toothpaste every time I run out. (Don’t try the herbal stuff, it’s vile.)

I don't think I'm going to find a product out there that will change my life. Such a thing only happens once if you're lucky (bless you Judy's Pickled Onions.)

I think it's become a joyous obsession because there is such a variety of choice out there. Or maybe it’s because I'm slowly figuring out what I want - albeit in tiny little baby steps.

Or maybe it’s just more fun than watching SABC on a Tuesday night.

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What do you think? Am I slowly going insane or do you also enjoy a spot of leisurely grocery shopping every now and then?
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