Dejibo, I don't know if you wore dark glasses and a hat with a brim. these are requirements for me to enter a supermarket at any hour of day or night, even after all crowds are gone, as the bright flourescents are still there until they close at midnight. Not that this would help with the awful kids clogging the aisle and the old ladies cutting in front of you. My local supermarket, except for the lights, is much better than this. Many of our residents are seniors who came her in the l940's and l950's and just stayed, and they behave very well, especially since they may be nearly a majority. So maybe I should be grateful to live here? Sometimes I wish I lived where there was water around (we do have drinking water, but a lake or stream takes a journey to find). But people behave pretty well in the market.

I do wear DARK (i mean black out) glasses in there. Left overs from my blind ON days. I make the husband fetch many things. I try to go slow and not allow myself to get into the RUN mental state. I try very hard to not hit the store later than 10am as I know it will be full of welfare moms who are shopping in their PJs with unwashed hair, 3 kids in tow, usually sneezing or touching every thing. They reek like ashtrays, and block the isles. There are also the home schoolers who come to learn about carrots, and broccoli and mom allows them all to touch, pass it around, and so on. While I am more appreciative of this mom as she keeps her kids next to her, is polite, and wont block the isle. I dont want you touching the food! I buy the organic stuff so its not in a wrapper, its out in the open.

Then there is the older crowd 80 plus that is wandering the store simply because they are on an outting from whatever senior complex they came from. Crabbing about the prices, REEKING of perfume! cutting front of you in line. I have #44 at the deli, and yet when they yell 44! someone always jumps up and says IM NEXT! when I wave my tag saying 44 im usually too late, as he is already waiting on the one who screamed. Now, I dont mind letting someone who needs to get ahead of me, but EVERY WEEK! I think they do it on purpose. They live at the sample lanes where they are handing out free bread and cheese, or meatball samples and drop more than they eat. then i step in it! I cant see my feet, so I dont know what I am stepping on.

its just a horrible place for me because I already feel hyper vigilant and I try to calm myself, only to get inside and find out that ...its worse than I remember! Thank Goodness for MS fog cause I tend to forget it all by the time I need to go again.

Whats with all the bright colors on the packages? Why does my Tea need to come in a BRIGHT YELLOW package? its like safety yellow! dont stare at it, or you will go blind.

I could go on all day, and I am struggling to find a way to make it accessible for me, but this far its just been my nightmare.

Shopping can always be a trial.

I find, for myself, that Target is far worse. At least our Target's are. I can never find what I need at a Target. Their clothes buyer is really terrible. I used to get nice things there, but no more! One day not too long ago I wanted a simple trash container for the bathroom. Not fancy, just easy to clean that would fit under a shelf. I had to go to FOUR departments...and never found one either! They also put the XMAS things way in the back corner every year, and for me walking the huge lot, then all the way to Outer Mongolia, for a couple of packs of Xmas tree lights, is just too much. At least at WalMart the Xmas and seasonal stuff is in the front corner.

Today I have to go to Target for some Dr. Scholl's inserts (since WalMart's had a spider in them, and I returned them, and I am afraid others there would have the spiders too). I've been wanting to go to Target for about 2 weeks, but today is the day. I think I will trap hubby to help me. Our Target is always busy, and the parking lot is horrible too. I'll try to get him to drop me off at the door and wait in the car-- near the pharmacy. I won't be long in there, for sure. I find the Target shoppers more snippy and pushy than the WalMart ones. Our WalMart is pretty civilized I guess? ;) The only thing I do like at Target, is the return desk...it is always friendly and well manned. But I don't use that very often.:rolleyes:

I really do think the rural areas have more eccentric patrons.
When we shop in the Soo, it is much different than down here.

These markets you describe, Mrs. D and Dejibo, are really awful! As I said, my local supermarket is pretty civilized. But I know that Target, Home Depot, and other big box stores in Santa Fe or Espanola would reduce me to the quivers, if not immediately, then the next day. I do not go into these places. If I must buy something there, I have my handyman buy it. He bought me a new dishwasher at Lowe's. He has picked up other things for me as well, and is now seeking a screen for my window. Home Depot is so toxic for me with chemicals from overseas that I can't go in without a carbon filter mask.
thus, I have only been in there twice in the past seven years. I buy my flowers for the planter locally, not at Home Depot again. I did go in there to buy a real piece of wood 7 years ago, to put under my computer keyboard (I am sensitive to ersatz wood with its various coatings and chemicals). The manager who found me my wood told me that they had only l6 linear feet of real wood in the place, and everything else came from China. And everything else was made of chemicals I am sensitive to. Thus, I have given up on Home Depot. Joe the handyman will have to go int there if I need something badly.

We have a local Hardware store thats a dream! they have real wood, real screws, real Christmas lights. I can walk in the door, hand my list to steve, and he will fill it, bring it to the register, ring it up, and carry it to the car. I can handle that!

We live in a heavily socially service dependent area, and there are NO stores round here. We have Target (new one) and its overloaded. Wal-Mart (old one) and its rammed full. Sears closed, JCP is open but only has tiny clothes. We have several grocery stores, but most are exactly the same as the other.

More than anything its the crowds. pushing and shoving, and reeking of perfume or ashtrays. allowing their kids to run free like its the zoo or something. I am supposed to be tolerant of their running carts up and down the isle till they finally smack me in the back or feet. I am supposed to be tolerant of smashing all the tomatoes, and taking bites out of the cakes. Mom says "kids will be kids!"

I've had to narrow my world down quite a bit......mostly to ordering what I need online.

I use my grocery store delivery guy, Phillip, for perishable things, produce and frozen foods. Yes it's more expensive than going myself but for what I buy (just for me) the fact that I don't have to actually "go" to the store is a huge benefit.

For all my paper products, cleaning products and general household items I use Alice.com. This site is fantastic. Superb customer service and quick delivery. Free shipping with a minimum order, too.

For pet food and supplies I shop Petco.com. Great site, fast shipping and it's free over $49.....sometimes they have specials where the minimum is less. Plus, I go through ebates and get cash back for my purchases. Just got a check for $35.83!!

For things I cannot get at Alice.com (which is a rarity) I use Drugstore.com. They ship quick and I can go through ebates for them, too.

I've got it down to a science and couldn't be happier with it! :)

Don't forget Amazon! They have much more variety there now!

I get most of my supplements (my hard to find ones at that) there now. Just about the same prices as iherb.com
They have useful items in the health section. That is where I found my little adjustable shower stool years ago.. which I still have. (after my leg injury)

I also just found some Americaine ointment and another first aid product that is no longer carried in stores here!

My guardian angels must have been with me yesterday...there was no one in the store, and hubby even came in to help me! LOL
But I noticed that the first aid section was very light with few choices. And another shopper could not find dye free Benadryl there either. She was making a fuss and we ended up talking together. She just had allergy tests and was turning pink! I also found my gel inserts but had a time really finding them-- which is typical for Target. They have narrowed the aisles quite a bit too, I've noticed.

Kelly, I went to Petco, but they didn't have my dog food..Purina little bites. I got it at Walgreens. they also have a grocery store for pantry items and free delivery for anything over 25.00!!

Thanks for all your hints.:hug:

I also am an amazon prime member, so I get great rates on fast shipping.

I have to go tomorrow. DS is here again, and that means the house needs food! UGH!

Sorry you have to go to the store. By some low fat stuff. Chicken breasts and vegetables for the crock pot. Good spices. Not too exciting but might help the MS part of your really challenging life.
I'm having a sleepless night and I know I have the dentist tomorrow, so things are not looking so great for me, either. I really don't think I can stand much more myself. But looking at the world, looks like world is on last legs too....