After searching her local Sam's Club store for toilet tissue and paper towels, the gray headed lady asked a nearby employee where they kept their toiletries. The man appeared not to understand her question. In her frustration the woman began to speak louder, "Where do you keep the TOILET TISSUE?"
"We don't have any toilet tissue." the young man responded.
"Seriously, you don't have toilet tissue! Where might I find paper towels?" she inquired.
"See them empty shelves from floor to ceiling," the young man pointed to two empty rows of metal shelving. "We haven't had any toilet tissue or paper towels in two days, and I don't know when we will get 'em in."
When the older woman's voice sprang from alto to soprano and the cement floor began to quiver with anxiety and frustration, a smiling lady appeared in her Sam's vest, decorated with pins and charms. "Mam, can I help you?"
The gray headed lady later explained to this reporter, that in that instant she realized that no form of sanitizes or aerosols would be available either, her mind felt like it would erupt over the panic set in from the Corona Virus, especially since she wasn't concerned about the damn virus. Instead, her panic came from the fact that she had no toilet tissue at home.
"When will you have toilet tissue on your shelves?" She replied slowly and clearly in a monotone word by word question.
"Mam, they told us yesterday that all of our shipments were going to Nashville and we do not know when we will have tissues, paper towels, alcohol, or hand sanitizers."
Before the volcano could erupt the disaster was averted The gray headed lady bowed her head as face turned flush. Through her tears she whispered, "I am sorry. I am so sorry." The unknown woman turned walking away from the crowded rows of people.
Lucky, for me there was no reporter. What I realized on the drive from Sam's Club to Target was the ability of the mind to scan, create scenes, multiply emotions, and tell a story in the heartbeat of a nano moment. Before I understood that the materials were diverted to Nashville I felt anger at our population of people who were collecting and hoarding items that the rest of us would not have access to. Isn't this how we felt when Russia threatened us with missiles? Before a second breath could be taken the word Nashville turned my mind to the horrific damage from the tornado last week, and the lives lost, hearts broken, community torn apart by a storm. My emotions dropped to sudden sadness and humility. Who was I to think that I was the only one who needed toilet tissue.
By the time I walked into Target expecting the same result, my mind had gone so far back to remember when my parents told stories of living through the depression and World War II. Would we now begin standing in line for basic supplies? Could we even begin the phantom the sacrifices our parents and grandparents made? My heart and chest sunk when I realized that I was the spoiled American. Easy to look around and think "they" could not live without their cell phones, Starbucks, fancy cars......Well, I wouldn't like it either.
I braced for defeat walking into Target. Much to my surprise I found their shelves filled with toilet tissue, paper towels, and Kleenex.
However, the search for rubbing alcohol proved to be futile. The pharmacy told me that when they did receive a supply of alcohol it was gone in ten minutes, and the same held true for hand sanitizer.
They did however, have six bottles of little girl sparkly hand sanitizer left. I fell in full blown laughter by then. I didn't even have sanitizer on the list, but now my curiosity was aroused. I had to see the bottle.
Won't I look cute with clean sparkly hands now.
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