Irene: Early Warning Signs

An alert “06880” reader reports:

My normal very tranquil nightly visit to Stop & Shop is interrupted by those in fear of the coming hurricane.  My first clue is that the parking lot is nearly full at 11 p.m.

As I pull up to find a spot, 2 large women are emptying their shopping cart full ofbottled water into the back of their over-sized gas guzzling SUV.  I wait for them tomove their cart so I can park but they do not budge.  This is not the friendliness that a snowstorm brings.  This is downright fear, and a feeling that Darwin was absolutely correct:  Only those whose pantry is full will survive.  The store is full of “stockers” who are in earlier than normal, so they can unpack all the boxes that clutter the aisles.

Shoppers are plentiful.  All have their carts stacked to the brim, their underwings full of bottled water, soda, dog food, and almost anything that can be bought in bulk.

True to form, there is only 1 cashier at this time at night.  I trail a lady with $434.45 worth of groceries.  I know this because, despite the fact that I only have my usual 7 items, she ignores me and I watch each of her items scanned.

She smiles at the cashier, but you can see fear in her eyes.  My God, I think, we only have 2 days of shopping left until the hurricane hits . . . maybe.

(NOTE:  In the event of a power outage, “06880” will strive to keep publishing.  No promises — but we’ll do our best.  Please send stories and photos to dwoog@optonline.net)