.Weeks in Review

    Even though the weather was not yet springlike, Memorial Day was not far off. I visited the cemetery gravesites, and cleared the remainders of last year's planting from the urn. With only several waterings, the geranium arrangement had lasted well into the fall. I removed the last vestiges of the plants from the urn, and smoothed over the remaining soil. 

   I had noticed that ShopNSave had just recently displayed their usual outdoor selections of plants and flowers, and expected to find a potted plant there. In only a few days, less than a week I'm sure, the whole display disappeared, not even close to Memorial Day. I keep meaning to ask what happened, but don't think of it when I'm in the store.

   Last week I drove to Price Chopper to try to find a suitable plant for the cemetery urn and also thought I'd take advantage of their sale on bottled water, one of the few products I still buy in advance of use. The price was 3 for $9.99.  I seldom check cash register receipts anymore, but I did, and saw the clerk had charged me for not 3, but 4 cases of water, including the deposit. I decided to forget about the $5.00 or so overcharge; I'd have to go back to Mechanicville, and besides, the clerk  appeared to be about 16 or so and probably working her first job. 

   I had ended up buying a pretty little rosebush for the cemetery;  Dorothy's favorite flower was the rose. The next day, as for the last 38 years now, I collected trowel and bottle of water and went to the cemetery to plant it in the urn, which sits on the base of the monument. But the urn was empty of the soil which was there a week before. Dirt thief!  I dug some dirt from the edge of the cemetery fence, and tried to build up the rosebush from its own potting soil level, but the result was imperfect.

  Today, embarked on a week-long fiber free diet, I went to ShopNSave for provisions. What ever happened to Puffed Rice? I rarely buy cereal nowadays, but that would fit the  guidelines, but ceases to exist. So I bought some liquid Ensure type drinks. I had 2 coupons worth $3 each, which I presented to the cashier, who looked maybe slightly older than my cat. Again I checked my receipt, still while  in the store this time. No deduction for coupons. I asked him about it. He said "For some reason they didn't ring up." Did I want them back? No, they expire today, $6.00 worth. 

   He called a young woman who seemed to be floating around the  store, maybe as some sort of supervisor/ trouble shooter for the new young cashiers, and she told him what to do, which was hand me $6.00 . All ended well, but I guess it's up to customers to participate in the training.