Seriously, what is it about the grocery store?

For the past month or so, my life has been all about two things: novel writing and Advent book promotion. In case you’re wondering, I’ve given up on the novel. I finished act one and now I have to get act 2 outlined before I can get writing again. Besides, it’s officially Advent. How did that happen? Shouldn’t we have a few more weeks to get ready???? 🙂

Ah, well. So it goes.

Today, I am posting over at CatholicMatch.com, so I won’t write a big post—go over there and read my thoughts on organizing the month of December. But I have to share one story of my Thanksgiving weekend, and preface it by saying: Seriously. What is it about the grocery store? Aldi is just about to get a category and tag on this blog!

Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to be interviewed about JttW on our local talk radio station. The following day, the host spoke with Sandra Boynton. (You can only imagine my feelings on being in such exalted company–and I mean that sincerely. 🙂 ) One of the things she shared was that she’s essentially anonymous; her art is instantly recognizable, but she still has to identify herself at the grocery store where she’s been shopping every week for two decades.

I was thinking about this as I walked into Aldi on Saturday morning, feeling grateful for my anonymity. Because occasionally, the grocery store is a retreat zone. Thank God, I thought, I don’t have to be on today, articulate and engaging and in “sales” mode. Thank God I get to be just an ordinary, faceless, grocery-shopping mom today.

And at that exact moment—I kid you not—the cashier yelled from halfway across the store, “HEY! I SAW YOU AND YOUR LITTLE GIRL IN THE PAPER!!!!!!!!”

At moments like these, you just have to laugh. At least, I thought, it’s about Down syndrome. I never get tired of talking about my daughter. “Isn’t she a cutie?” I said, grinning, and headed down the aisle shaking my head. Apparently I will never be anonymous in my own hometown. 🙂 And by the way, the article that rendered me not-so-invisible can be found here. (Also BTW…despite the look on my face, I was not mad when this picture was taken. Just trying to keep Julianna from demolishing Alex’s tower before it was ready.)

So…for my opening thoughts on Advent, head on over to CatholicMatch.com. It’s going to be a big Advent week here at So Much To Say, So Little Time. Stay tuned!