There has been a frightening new development in my life. As a pseudo-grownup, I have been buying my own groceries for years. Lately I have noticed a frightening trend. When I’m checking out, the bagger has started asking me if I need help getting the groceries to my car.  I had only been offered this service once before, after spinal fusion surgery when I was wearing a clamshell brace. (Quite the fashion statement I can assure you. )

But now, braceless, the baggers seem to think me incapable of schlepping my own groceries out to the parking lot and loading them into my car. While this is not my favorite part of the grocery shopping experience, especially if it’s raining, I can’t quite understand what has made them see me as someone in need of assistance.

I go shopping after my day job, and I probably look like I need a nap or a large cafe mocha but that doesn’t explain why the bagger believes I need help. Maybe it’s my sensible shoes or the fact that I’m not wearing skinny jeans. Maybe it’s my lack of tattoos and/or piercings. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m humming along to the muzak/golden oldies playing on the store sound system. Whatever the reason, I find it disturbing, and it needs to stop. On a side note, if someone from the store offered to follow me home, put away the groceries, and cook dinner I’d be on board with that. What’s your least favorite part of grocery shopping?