Okay, so I have to "run" to the store today and I am getting used to the fact I have no SUV to drive. I instead get on the #10 bus with Noah on one hip and Alleyah holding my other hand. We jump on and find a seat. If there is no seat, someone will always offer me a seat because of the kids (they get up for elderly people too, I like that). The store is only about 8 blocks, but the bus takes at least 20 minutes with all the stops it has to make. Not so bad. We then get into the store and they have shopping carts! (Not that Noah will stay in it or anything). I pull out my list of ten things. I remind myself that I can’t get too much because I have to carry it home, along with the kids! One stuffed bag is enough. The first thing on the list is salt. Anyone know what salt looks like in Asian characters? Yeah, I don't. As I am looking through the store for something white in a bag, every local person is curious at what I am going to buy. A line of people begins to form behind me. I see something white down an aisle! Is this sugar or salt? Umm touch, feel, I wish I could open it. I then wonder why Noah is crying. I turn and look. "Oh no, no, no, no, please don't take Noah out." Yeah the local people want to hold, touch, and feel the kids. It’s kind of distracting. Okay, I will just pick this white stuff for now, meanwhile a small crowd is forming around the kids, and so I better get moving. Oh, more white stuff! Umm, I’m just going to buy both! You can never have enough salt and/or sugar right? Then I will know what is what when I open it. Okay two things found. Umm what time is it? Oh my, it has already been an hour! Ahhhhhhh! Okay after awhile I think I found all the things, so I go to the cash register. I stuff my bag canvas bag that I brought from home (you have to pay for plastic grocery bags), pay about $15 for everything, then I put my receipt and change in my purse and get pushed through. It is so busy at the register. Whew, I made it only to realize they are like Costco and want my receipt at the door. Ahhh, I put it away. Now I am holding Noah on one arm and a hip, a bag of groceries, Alleyah's hand, and trying to dig the receipt out of my purse. The line grows behind me. Just a little stressful, but I made it out. Okay it is now 2 hours after I left the house I am going to pay the full dollar and just get a taxi back. No bus! "TAXI!" Umm, how do I saw my address again" Oh yeah, "Tong ren xiou qu" How-la! He knows. Okay get out, pay the guy and we walk to our building. Just then I remember I now have to carry these kids and the groceries up six flights of stairs. They are tired, hungry and fussy. "You can do it Lori!" Here I go! Up, up, up, up, up, up! Made it. I think I need a nap.
