The Wall

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“What a dear old wall that is that runs along by the river there! I never pass it without feeling better for the sight of it. Such a mellow, bright, sweet old wall; what a charming picture it would make, with the lichen creeping here, and the moss growing there, a shy young vine peeping over the top at this spot, to see what is going on upon the busy river, and the sober old ivy clustering a little farther down! There are fifty shades and tints and hues in every ten yards of that old wall. . . . It looks so peaceful and so quiet, and it is such a dear old place to ramble round in the early morning before many people are about.” Jerome K. Jerome, “Three Men In A Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog)” Ch. 6 (1889)

Shopping

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 The heaviest of the shopping season is over. It’s just not the same as it used to be, shopping. I can’t speak for this year, but last year and the year before, online shopping increased so much during the holiday season that UPS, USPS and Amazon rented every 26 foot lift gate truck they could find from UHaul, Budget and Penske starting in October and ending the February. Independent contractors had nothing to drive in that period and woe to the normal Joe who had to move his family, especially military families. 

I’m partially to blame. I don’t do much shopping apart from grocery shopping, but when I get a gift card, I go online. I couldn’t tell you which stores carry things I might buy, but I can find them online! Grocery shopping has changed too—just shop online! Have someone else get your stuff and go to the store and pick it up— shoot, just have it delivered! It’s nice in a pinch, but this has become a way of life for some people. I’m some parts of the world, you can only buy meat on Tuesday—and it’s still standing. 


Nearly every night someone asks me which nearby restaurants deliver. Except for pizza, none of them. But with Doordash and Uber Eats, everyone delivers! A coffee or soda for delivery from the restaurant next door? For crying out loud!


Work from home and shop online. What next?




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