Groceries with Claire

No, Claire is not here in the Czech Republic. She's at school in Chicago. But she went grocery shopping with me today!

Sometimes when I'm out I see things, such as these fresh figs, that remind me of her so take a picture.

She's not always available to write back and that's fine! I just know that at some point in her day she'll get it and smile because I was thinking of her.

Today though, she happened to be free when I sent the picture of the figs, taken at one of my grocery stores. And thus started our shopping trip "together" this afternoon.

"They have the most random things at Lidl," I wrote after encountering kinesiology tape there.

And you never know when you might need a cake pop maker! Or a vinegar and oil sprayer! To which she replied, "So random!"

"And then there are these," I wrote back. Truly, you never know what you might find at Lidl!

Speaking of what you never know might show up in the store, I sneakily took and sent the next picture.

To which she replied, "As Grandma would say, 'Oh dear'"!!! I wrote back, "This conversation is making me laugh as I walk around!!"

"Lidl is more adventurous and surprising than other stores," she wrote. "Aldi [in the States] is slightly similar but not as good. Their produce and meats aren't quite as interesting as Lidl."

This sent me on a search through the store for 'interesting' meat!

Pate in a jar or package anyone? How about meatloaf in plastic wrap? Or cottage pork? It's all interesting meat for sure!

I went on to find some nice sorbet.

And individually packaged slices of a famous cake here in Czech. I thought that was pretty clever since it's hard to eat a whole cake before it dries out.

As I stood in the checkout line I typed, "Thanks for chatting and shopping with me!" And she replied, "Wish I could've actually shopped with you!"

She and I used to grocery shop every day after school, for years. So it's a hobby of sorts, and an enjoyment for both of us.

One of her final messages: "I'm sooooo glad you taught me how to grocery shop. It's a lifesaver!"

"You're welcome Claire! I always enjoyed it while you lived here, am glad we occasionally shop by long distance messaging, and am happy you are a good shopper in the USA!"