Captain Trips? in A small but passable life.

I went out to the store a few days ago. I got everything that was on our weekly list except for canned veggies. There were none. I got the last four packages of instant tators and the last four packages of Knorr Sides. I had to wait until more milk was put into the case.

There were too many completely empty shelves to remember what they had once held.

Water coming out of the tap. Check.
Lights coming on when the switch is flipped. Check.
Groceries enough for two weeks. Check.

The park should be emptying out soon. Maybe earlier than usual. Maybe more will stay than usual. We’ll see.

Mom doesn’t have an appointment to have her device checked for another three months. All her meds come by mail. She’s not worried. She was born in the heart of the Dustbowl during the Great Depression and usually only worries about things that don’t really matter. We did have a discussion about just how many episodes of The Price Is Right are in the can before there is no more audience.

I’ve changed my analogy describing civilization from a row of dominoes to a Jenga stack. I think the visual is better.

Some words of wisdom: