Shopping alone

A few days ago I was I thinking back to the first day I drove my car after getting my license in 2001 – I wanted to go from our house in Al Diyafah to St Mary’s church but as I was about to turn towards the church I saw two big vehicles speeding behind me – Got so nervous that I kept going straight on the main Dubai – Sharjah highway as I was not sure where the various Exits would take me . Finally reached Sharjah – took the roundabout I was familiar with and came straight back home! Now however I am a good driver – WITH GPS. I am quite bad on direction and not proud of it. I must tell you a story – I have a colleague in one of our schools who once offered to take a friend and me for breakfast. We were so happy when we set off in his car. We were about to reach the hotel off Sh Zayed Road when suddenly he got all confused and entered a NO ENTRY lane! Luckily, it was a Friday, if not it could have been very dangerous with heavy traffic. He then managed to back out slowly and with difficulty, while blaming me for giving him the wrong direction WHICH I DID NOT. He denies any wrongdoing and that makes me laugh. Two vehicles coming in the opposite direction missed banging into us- one driver muttered under his breath and thought we were mad ,while the other made a strange gesture with his hand and laughed at us with his window down . We were awfully embarrassed. ( I can’t give you that person’s name as he made me promise I would never tell anyone ) . How he never saw a LARGE, RED, NO ENTRY board beats me to this day. Now everyone knows that you usually do not change hairdressers, doctors, dentists, tailors etc. It is just not done. I know that too, but for convenience sake, two weeks ago I went to a newly opened saloon near my house, to have a haircut as my hair was so long -it was flowing down my back. Now I speak English and Hindi – unfortunately, the barber did not know both and spoke some other language. I was also wearing a tight mask and my hands were trapped under the plastic cape, hence giving instructions was difficult. So, I said a prayer and made signs with my eyes to him to cut my hair. Not sure what he understood but he used a machine, was very swift & by the time he finished, I was almost bald. He was beaming as if he had just made some big discovery. He then tried to tell me in sign language that he would massage my head. I jumped up off the chair in panic not knowing what he would do with my head next. Yes, I tipped him, nevertheless. Have you noticed how gradually our wants have all but vanished? – Suddenly for months I have not felt the need to buy clothes, shoes, ties, go to the mall etc – it’s a saving as well. Our basic needs remain and there too I see that there is less wastage! I think this is so good for us and the world. Something else- - Have you noticed how we seem to use more trash bags here that in our home countries? We must make a concerted effort NOT TO WASTE ANYTHING. This morning at 7 am I went shopping for groceries – ALONE. I love to do grocery shopping alone. When I go with others (read wife) we seem to spend far too much time walking through the aisles, staring at items on the shelf, discussing, getting tempted and buying unnecessary things. Before we set out, a list is prepared, and I am told not to pick up non listed items as I am sometimes apt to do. Then, as we are about to leave the house, she goes back in to check that the gas is turned off, then the iron or the Ac as well. We are already out of the front door & I press the button for the lift which is just opposite our entrance – then I am asked to go in again to check that the cat has not been locked out on the balcony or some such trivial stuff . I am already tired, irritated & frustrated and we often drive in silence! We reach the supermarket and before I know it, we have a trolley full of stuff – much of which was not in the list in the first place. No, I am not to blame – sorry, it’s not me. Shopping? I love it – ALONE!!