Bags! 03/03/2008
 

I've been on blog hiatus while Erik Kieser is here.  We've been having a great visit and there's been little down time for blogging.  (We chat and chat and chat when we're together.)

I do have two observations from the time period to share, though.  The first happened on Saturday.  Erik went off to the gym and I went to the grocery store to go shopping.  As an aspiring "green" woman, I took in my reusable grocery bags.  The baggers always wrestle with them a little bit but I still think it's the right choice for the environment despite it slowing down the line a bit.

The woman behind me was visibly frustrated with the slowness of the bagging process.  My order was complete and paid for--yet still being bagged--while her order came down the conveyor.  In order to assist the checker, she started bagging her own groceries.

And I mean she bagged everything.  Bottled water with a handle?  In a bag.  Liter bottles of soda?  1 bag each.  And so on. 

I stood with my mouth open and was so very tempted to say, "Oh, you don't need a bag for that." 

Thankfully, I restrained myself.

I did leave the store frustrated and thinking I was wasting my time until I realized that my choice to use greener bags is about my behavior.  Not about any one else's.  It was still a contribution to the environment.  The woman behind me would have used just as many bags whether or not I was in line with her.  The two have nothing to do with each other.

Still, if by some miracle she's reading this...<grin>

Second quick observation came at yesterday's farmer's market.  I was a regular there last summer and fall, right when I first began carrying reusable bags.  It was a sea change at the market.  People would look at me like I was a lunatic when I didn't use the plastic bags. 

This time I went and the sales folk recognized the canvas bag over my shoulder and asked if I wanted a bag rather than automatically pulling one out for my produce selections.

This type of change is granular and gradual.  And it's happening nonetheless.

 

 


Comments

Dana Miller

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:52:41

Check out BaggyShirts - they are made out of recycled men's shirts, and the folks who make them work from home and are paid a decent wage....very green....very cool...www.baggy-shirts.com. The more we use reusable bags, the easier it gets!

 

The woman behind you!

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:03:59

Well, that miracle happened and I do read your blog. I hate all you "geenies." All you do is slow down my day with your concern for the environment! Screw the environment!

Love always,

The woman behind you at the store...:)

 

The guy behind the woman in front of you

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 21:29:05

Well I for one thought it was brilliant that you took the time to take care of the recycling thing. We need more folks like you. The poor woman in front of me is just dealing with deprivation thinking/fears - we'll just keep setting an example for her until she can shake free.

 

Laura

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:53:12

Thanks for the tip, Dana. I'll check out your site next time I need some gifts and/or to replace my resuable bags.

Welcome to Laura's Blog.

 

Laura

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:54:18

Hello Woman Behind Me:

How embarassing that you found me! <grin>

Hate is such a strong word.

 

Laura

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:58:03

Hi Guy Behind the Woman:

(Why do I feel like Ann Landers all of a sudden?)

Thanks for the moral support. I think the woman was tongue in cheek.

I forgot my bags when I went to Target today but I made them put it all in one instead of 3...so I guess I still am (somewhat) green today.

 



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