I loved this. It made me laugh because I recognised that whole supermarket theatre happening inside your head. The committee of voices advising every choice while you’re just trying to buy groceries.
What really landed for me though was the moment of envy. Not the crisps or the cookies, but the freedom of a trolley without all the internal debate. That felt very human. Sometimes it isn’t the thing itself we want, it’s the ease.
And Sunny deserves his own medal. Those small moments of kindness from strangers can feel oddly restorative, especially when you’ve been wandering aisles convinced pepitas do not in fact exist.
Also I am now thinking about that exclamation mark on the cookie packet far more than I ever expected to in my life. That alone made the piece worth it.
So glad you enjoyed this, thanks for letting me know. And you get it! The envy of the ease, and that dang exclamation point. Maybe one of these days I’ll go BE those other shoppers.
Emily, this was such a fun read. “Shopping cart envy” made me laugh because I’ve definitely had those moments looking at someone else’s cart and wondering about their life.
What struck me most is that you didn’t turn it into judging the people with the Pringles and Chips Ahoy. Instead you turned the spotlight on yourself and the committee of nutrition voices in your head. That made it feel very real and very human.
While reading I had a funny chain of thoughts: first I thought how cute and honest your writing style is, then I realized I actually miss Chips Ahoy because I haven’t had them in years. And then I found myself wondering how someone can make a story about buttermilk and pepitas this entertaining.
By the end I had a little epiphany: ordinary moments are actually full of stories if you pay attention to the thoughts running through your head. This piece reminded me of that. Thank you for the laugh and the perspective.
Thanks very much for your comment! I feel like I just met a new kindred spirit since it's not everyone who can appreciate an article about pepitas and buttermilk and the way this mind of mine works in such special ways ;)
It was wonderfully validating to know I'm not the only one observing the carts of others. I sometimes also wonder if the cashier is proud of me for my typically healthy choices 🤦🏼♀️
If you end up getting Chips Ahoy! please do let me know.
Given my produce and vegan "dairy" product filled grocery cart, like you, Emily, I shamelessly check out the goodies that fill other shoppers' carts. Somewhere deep in my body, I hope my arteries and other organs are thanking me for my boring food choices. Also, here's my buttermilk substitute for baking and cooking -- 1T vinegar + 1 cup of milk (any type). Let it stand 5 - 10 minutes. You have a cup of buttermilk!
You 'get' it! Like you, I'm happy with my choices, but sometimes the goodies in other carts appeal—as they are designed to! I'm sure your arteries and organs are very much celebrating your very practical food choices :) And about the buttermilk tip, thank you for reminding me! I'd dismissed it since I'm using it for salad dressing, not baking. Would the vinegar+milk work do you think (for next time...after I get through this canister ;))?
Good luck getting through the canister! You may not want buttermilk ever again after that. According to who-knows-what source on Google, milk+vinegar makes a "decent" buttermilk substitute in salad dressings. Not exactly a ringing endorsement. The substitute lacks the "creamy richness and subtle sourness" of real buttermilk. You don't want to miss out on "subtle sourness." Thank you for another delightful essay, Emily, and your note.
I loved this. It made me laugh because I recognised that whole supermarket theatre happening inside your head. The committee of voices advising every choice while you’re just trying to buy groceries.
What really landed for me though was the moment of envy. Not the crisps or the cookies, but the freedom of a trolley without all the internal debate. That felt very human. Sometimes it isn’t the thing itself we want, it’s the ease.
And Sunny deserves his own medal. Those small moments of kindness from strangers can feel oddly restorative, especially when you’ve been wandering aisles convinced pepitas do not in fact exist.
Also I am now thinking about that exclamation mark on the cookie packet far more than I ever expected to in my life. That alone made the piece worth it.
So glad you enjoyed this, thanks for letting me know. And you get it! The envy of the ease, and that dang exclamation point. Maybe one of these days I’ll go BE those other shoppers.
And isn’t Sunny really just the best of humanity?
Emily, this was such a fun read. “Shopping cart envy” made me laugh because I’ve definitely had those moments looking at someone else’s cart and wondering about their life.
What struck me most is that you didn’t turn it into judging the people with the Pringles and Chips Ahoy. Instead you turned the spotlight on yourself and the committee of nutrition voices in your head. That made it feel very real and very human.
While reading I had a funny chain of thoughts: first I thought how cute and honest your writing style is, then I realized I actually miss Chips Ahoy because I haven’t had them in years. And then I found myself wondering how someone can make a story about buttermilk and pepitas this entertaining.
By the end I had a little epiphany: ordinary moments are actually full of stories if you pay attention to the thoughts running through your head. This piece reminded me of that. Thank you for the laugh and the perspective.
Thanks very much for your comment! I feel like I just met a new kindred spirit since it's not everyone who can appreciate an article about pepitas and buttermilk and the way this mind of mine works in such special ways ;)
It was wonderfully validating to know I'm not the only one observing the carts of others. I sometimes also wonder if the cashier is proud of me for my typically healthy choices 🤦🏼♀️
If you end up getting Chips Ahoy! please do let me know.
I’ve been thinking about that 'committee' in your head, mine is more like a loud town hall meeting! 😅
About those Chips Ahoy, I’m still hesitating. I tried a Twinkie recently after years of not having one and it was so bad it actually broke my heart. 😢
Now I’m just wondering if the cookies are just falling for a nostalgia trap!
Maybe I can just buy one piece of someone else's cart? 😅
Given my produce and vegan "dairy" product filled grocery cart, like you, Emily, I shamelessly check out the goodies that fill other shoppers' carts. Somewhere deep in my body, I hope my arteries and other organs are thanking me for my boring food choices. Also, here's my buttermilk substitute for baking and cooking -- 1T vinegar + 1 cup of milk (any type). Let it stand 5 - 10 minutes. You have a cup of buttermilk!
You 'get' it! Like you, I'm happy with my choices, but sometimes the goodies in other carts appeal—as they are designed to! I'm sure your arteries and organs are very much celebrating your very practical food choices :) And about the buttermilk tip, thank you for reminding me! I'd dismissed it since I'm using it for salad dressing, not baking. Would the vinegar+milk work do you think (for next time...after I get through this canister ;))?
Good luck getting through the canister! You may not want buttermilk ever again after that. According to who-knows-what source on Google, milk+vinegar makes a "decent" buttermilk substitute in salad dressings. Not exactly a ringing endorsement. The substitute lacks the "creamy richness and subtle sourness" of real buttermilk. You don't want to miss out on "subtle sourness." Thank you for another delightful essay, Emily, and your note.