I went to the store the other day with both kids to pick up a couple things. While out, my dad called and asked me to pick up some coke and some rum. I think he was going to be making rum an coke, but I am not sure. Sure, dad, I can do that, no problem. Then I got a call from my mom. Can I pick up some black tea with no goofy flavors for a friend that is staying with us? Sure, mom, I can do that, no problem. I am so agreeable.

I ventured into the grocery store and grabbed a basket. That was mistake number one. I had a 16 month old on my hip. How in the world was I to carry the basket after I put something in it? My nearly 4 year old walked next to me. We went and grabbed the case of Coke. Coke, I’d like to ask you a question. WHY do you make packaging that makes a person think that the reason there is a little spot to push in and hold onto the case means that you can actually do that to carry the case and it will hold up? WHY? Why would you not actually make packaging that is sturdy enough to withstand a human being holding onto it? My case of Coke did not rip apart and spew 12 cans of Coke all over the store, but it surely was flimsy enough to make me think it was going to.

I then wandered over to the tea aisle. By that, I mean, I wandered around looking for the tea aisle for far too long. Finally found it and daughter and I celebrated. I thought it would take about 10 seconds to get what I needed but alas people are picky and choosy and goofy and insist on all sorts of fancy flavored tea so therefore there are a zillion flavors and no boxes of just plain old tea. Well, there were, it just took me a while to find the ONE box of plain tea mixed in with all the ginger, lemon and asparagus flavored teas. While I searched, my son ran around the aisle pulling stuff of the shelves. We got out of the store fast before anyone saw it was us who made the mess.

Walked across to the liquor store where they, of course, didn’t have the kind of rum dad wanted. The right brand, but not the extra old. Okay then, whatever. He didn’t want the original kind, so I had to, with a flimsy case of coke in one hand, a grocery bag stuffed into my purse, a toddler on my hip and a 4 year old who apparently saved up all of her jumping for right when we walked into a store where every single item is in a glass bottle, find “the best rum they have”. I grabbed the most expensive bottle assuming that meant it was the best and we made our way out of the store miraculously without breaking anything.

By the time we got to the car, I was very tempted to pour myself a rum and coke.