Wednesday 23 May 2012

What do you mean there are no Weet-Bix

Yesterday was what I call a ‘valley’ day.  There was nothing mountain top, glorious or wondrous about it, it is a little bleak, cold and lonely, so not really a great day.  I went to Woolworths to buy a few things, not a good thing to do on a valley day but it could not be helped.  One item on the shopping list was Weet-Bix, an absolute staple item in our house. 


Well when I got to the cereal aisle to discover there were no Weet-Bix it caused me to have a mini-meltdown.  I literally stood in front of the empty space and spoke fairly loudly ‘there are no Weet-Bix .... what supermarket in Australia doesn’t have Weet-Bix’.  I had my girls with me who looked blankly as I continued with my rant ‘What are we suppose to do with no Weet-Bix’.  My mind and body could not move on, people walked past smiling politely, and I would wave my arms and throw my hands out in exasperation at the empty spot on the shelves saying ‘No Weet-Bix’.  An overreaction, possibly.  Eventually, being the well adjusted, educated, problem solving human being I am I worked out we could just eat corn flakes for a day, and I was able to move on and get on with my shopping.


In my over-excitement I forget to get porridge from the cereal aisle so I had to go back, and right there before my eyes the shelves were stacked with boxes and boxes of glorious Weet-Bix, I couldn’t believe it, was it a mirage or a miracle.  The Woolworth’s staff member was packing the shelves as I excitedly and loudly exclaimed ‘There are Weet-Bix’ she apologised saying the delivery truck was late but I didn’t care, I could buy Weet-Bix.  I was overjoyed.


Now, I think there is a life lesson here I’m just not sure what it is.  Is it, we can experience  joy after disappointment, but without the disappointment coming first we may miss out on the joy.  Or joy can be found in the strangest and smallest places, or disappointment can emotionally highjack us and make us think and do irrational things, don’t ever go grocery shopping on a valley day or am I just too attached to Weet-Bix.  I would love to hear what you think the life lesson is from this incident?    

3 comments:

  1. I love this! Funny that you mention Weet-bix because I have been thinking about it lately and am planning on asking Mum to bring me a large pack when she comes to visit.
    Also, I have been in this exact situation, bewildered when I couldn't find my cereal.. I knew it's exact location on the shelves,number of steps in from the end of the aisle and then one day.. not there.... Not to give up I kept searching to find that not only was it moved to a new location, but it was hidden by a different brand. I was so delighted and proud that I didn't give up. Beaming I move onto the next aisle to continue my shopping and another shopper spots my Grape-Nuts cereal and asks me how did I find them. I was thrilled to be able to share my knowledge and help out another shopper. So in response to your question... we shouldn't expect mountain-high days every day, but to appreciate the small joys as gifts to get us through each day.

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  2. Jodi you have made this day a mountain top day for me because I now have a comment on my blog ... yippee!!

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  3. This is very funny Justine! Yes, I have those moments - milk for me, CANNOT cope without milk for my cup of tea in the morning. But you know when I have had to go without it for whatever reason, the world doesn't fall apart (eventho on a valley day it feels pretty close to it ;). It's all about how much importance we hang on these little rituals in our day. And maybe when we decide to move on from the devastation of no weetbix or no milk and look for some little silver lining in the day, we find them in the most unexpected places - like restacked shelves! Thanks for this post, gave me a few giggles :)

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