MYOB

This is how my week has gone:

• Warm kolaches brought by my desk in the morning.

• Donut holes at an early morning meeting.

• Donuts in the break room.

• Cookies on file cabinets.

• Some sort of chip and dip fest in the middle of the office with my colleagues trying not to make eye contact.

• GIRL SCOUT COOKIES ON MY DESK WHEN I GOT HERE THIS MORNING!!!

•  Lots of assumptions that I must be starving.

I’m not starving.  I’m not even remotely hungry most of the time.  I think everyone will be surprised when I post on Monday morning at just how much food I have left over, both in raw form and in prepared leftovers.  What I am is sick and tired of eating the same 10 items in various combinations, so much so that I actually skipped dinner last night because I couldn’t bear to eat more chicken or potatoes.  I did have an apple.

One criticism that I often hear of SNAP recipients is what they have in their carts.  Why do they have honey buns? How are they affording steaks? What right do they have to that fancy pasta sauce when the government is paying for it?  After religiously eating chicken, apples, potatoes and oatmeal for a week, I cannot fault someone for wanting some red meat and high fructose corn syrup because right now, that sounds like a pretty delicious treat.

What I’m trying to say is mind your own business.  Worry about what’s in your cart, not your neighbors.  You have no idea what someone’s situation and story is.  Maybe they live in one of those food deserts, and never learned how to shop mindfully.  Maybe it’s someone’s birthday, and honey buns and fancy pasta sauce are their favorite treat.  Maybe they are just sick and tired of eating the cheapest thing they can find.  And remember, SNAP is a SUPPLEMENTAL program.  If someone can satisfy their grocery list using $4/day and still have some money left over for beer or wine, MORE POWER TO YOU.  I could certainly use a drink after all this.

I may have a Girl Scout Cookie or four in the car. Don’t tell anyone.