The Gavin Show

Until very recently, I had been living something of a cliche in my apartment. That is to say, the interior of my my refrigerator looked as if it had been tended to by a bachelor who lives in a studio apartment. It looked that way not just because that is exactly the case, but also because I’d gotten quite lazy about grocery shopping. I ordered Chinese take-out, picked up sandwiches from Never on Sunday, or picked up pizza from Iggies for most meals. Breakfast would include a trip to Donna’s for coffee, and that’s mostly because something was growing in my coffee pot. The dishes situation was a disaster worthy of its own post at a later date.

Hot off the heels of a payday, I made an extensive shopping list–for the first time I could remember–and headed off to the grocery store. I was proud of myself by the time I reached the check-out counter. My cart was stuffed to the brim with groceries, and not just junk food. I had fruit, vegetables, meat, cheese, juice, milk, a few snacks, some frozen pizzas, and various other stuff for around the kitchen.

At the check-out counter, the cashier gave me a knowing look. “Are you moving into a new place?” she asked.

I was suddenly and overwhelmingly embarrassed. Before I realized I was speaking, a lie came out of my mouth. “I’ve been out of town for a while.” She nodded at me, not believing, caring, or both. I was then even more embarrassed that I had tried so feebly to lie about some exotic out-of-town adventure that caused me to suddenly need every kind of food the store had to offer.

$150 later, I unloaded my bags in my refrigerator. As you can see from the photo below, I now have the kind of refrigerator you would expect a grown-up to have. I promised myself I won’t wait until I’m down to condiments before the next trip.