Finally I've Seen the Light.

I cannot believe, having food shopped for a good thirty-five years, I was oblivious to the easy solution to one of my most frustrating annoyances in life! A friend kindly put me out of my misery last week. I'm almost too embarrassed to write of my former dilemma, but if there are others like me with their heads in the sand, I wish to pay my enlightenment forward. Believe me, your food shopping world will forever revolutionise.

My problem was with plastic, produce bags. Yes I know, plastic is not ideal, however I reuse these bags, often twice. Trying to pull them apart in an attempt to reveal their opening was an exasperating, time-consuming task that had me swearing profusely under my breath. Simply put, it drove me insane!

I would rub the opening of a bag between my fingers, then palms, as empathetic onlookers continually suggested. I would try and pick the bag open or scrunch it in my hand (short of throwing it to the floor and stomping on it), in an attempt to loosen its iron grip. I searched for water droplets among the fruit and vegetable stands (that were never to be found), as wetness always seemed to do the trick. God forbid I licked my finger!

While it took fifteen seconds to fill a bag with goods, ten minutes would be wasted unlocking the wretched thing. I was short of pulling my hair out. Mind you, the hand sanitizer available at each store entrance since the beginning of the pandemic, has been a godsend. As I entered the supermarket each week, I repeatedly made sure to seize and immediately open the number of plastic bags I needed with the last little bit of remaining moisture on my hands. This worked beautifully and not one swear word arose. However, hopefully this method is not sustainable as we endeavour to heal through the Covid-19 virus, although I imagine, sanitizer will stick around for a long while.

Now I am able to completely rub the antiseptic gel into my hands because I have finally been educated. Last week a friend of mine, who happens to work in the produce department of my local supermarket, was entertained as she noticed me wrestle with yet another uncooperative, plastic bag. Quickly coming to my aid before police were called on the grounds of me disturbing the peace, she pointed out the most amazing thing!

"If you hold the bag up and look along the sides, you will see one side marginally overlaps the other, just enough to grab it with the tips of your forefinger and thumb," she said.

"Oh my goodness, you're right!" I shrieked.  

As Tracey proceeded to pull the overlapping piece, the two top adjoining corners of that side separated to form a small, hollow triangle shape, enough to manoeuvre my hands to easily grab both sides of the plastic bag. From there, one shake and the bag was open, ready to be filled.

Seriously, over all these years, how have I never noticed that little overlapping bit, although in my defence, you almost require a bionic eye to perceive it. Sheepishly I calmed down and suddenly felt all my Christmases had come at once. That enlightening moment was definitely something worth celebrating.

I'm forever indebted to Tracey for her forthcoming wisdom. Not only will my sanity stay intact, my blood pressure remain normal and I'll refrain from offending fellow shoppers within earshot, but food shopping may possibly transform into a new, enjoyable experience. Then again, I wouldn't quite go that far, but at the very least it will thankfully take up less of my time.