It’s Friday, February 28, 2025. 5:57 PM.  I just got back from my required exercise at the pool and my hair is still wet.  Remnants from breakfast are still lodged in my teeth and gums and I want to go water-floss them out but it’s more efficient to wait til after I eat my next meal at this point (I’m having that meal right now).

I had a *most* American moment today when I stopped for groceries on my way home from the pool.  I was in a rush, so I popped into the grocery store that was along the way as opposed to my usual one.  This grocery store was called “America’s Food Basket”.

Today there is a national economic boycott, which I have been adhering to, however - diabetics need to eat!  I took comfort in the fact that I don’t use my own “money” at the grocery store, which is what the boycott requests that you *do not use*.  I instead use my EBT card and I was praying there was enough on it today, even though it’s the last day of the month, meaning the chances of that being a reality are slim. (For context: my EBT refills on the first of the month, however, this looks different for everyone.  Your “date of renewal of benefits” is sometimes based on when you applied/were approved for them.)

Once I reach the end of the produce section, a man with an iPad approaches me.  He asks me if I am an Eversource customer, which I am, since my household receives electricity through this utility company.  I was quick to tell him that we are renters, not homeowners.  I did this because I’ve been approached by people in grocery stores before asking if I wanted the state to pay for solar panels for our home.  As much as I wish I could take them up on this offer - it only works if you’re the homeowner.  My landlord could not care less about our “utility needs” lol.  

This guy reassures me that he *is not* trying to sell me solar panels and that he is simply helping people reduce their utility bills.  I looked around and saw there were others like him, following shoppers around with an iPad doing the same.  I was *relieved* because we haven’t paid that bill since July and it’s our highest bill out of all 3 (electric, gas, internet).  That bill is in my name for our house and only because I am the only resident in our home who is on Medicaid and EBT consistently.  As the bill holder, this grants me a hefty discount that we can all share the benefit of.  However, I am terrible at managing bills, especially when split between 6 people, and dropped the ball on it long ago.  (But I will pick the ball up again when I am able!)

He takes down all my info and accesses my account.  I tell him I’m in a hurry and need to be home by 6pm.  He says that’s ok and that he can walk with me as I get my groceries.  My initial thought was - OH NO TOO MUCH NOISE AND DATA AND ITS CROWDED IN HERE AND WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO GET AGAIN IDK.  It was rush hour traffic and the store was indeed very crowded, noisy, and overwhelming.  I was also not familiar with its layout and struggled to find my items quickly.  But I continue to talk to him because we REALLY REALLY need that discount.

We eventually get to the checkout line and I am finalizing my exchange with this guy as I try to pay for my groceries.  He needed to ask me a bunch of more questions and I had to sign off on some stuff on his iPad.  My total at the register came to about $42 and I swiped my EBT card with prayers in tow.  It was declined. 

“You have $7 left” says the man at the register.  I told him I would still like to use the $7.  I swipe again after he adjusts the amount.  So now I have about $35 left to pay.  I begin to worry and panic because all I had on me was $10 in cash that I need for later and my debit card.  All my credit cards are still shut off because I can’t pay them right now.  My dude with the iPad says - “Are you short?”  He hands me a $15 gift card to this specific grocery store.  Its part of the “reward” for engaging with him about my Eversource bill.  I thank him incessantly and accept the gift card, in front of the cashier.  He tells me I can use it right now.  I hand the gift card to the cashier.

“You can’t use that” says the cashier.  I get confused.

“But he just said I could” I tell him.

“You can’t use it twice” he replies.

“But I just got it, so how could I have used it before?”

The guy with the iPad interjects and reassures the cashier that I am using it for the first time since he literally just gave it to me.

The cashier finally accepts it and puts it in his cash drawer.  However, I am still deeply confused.  If they take the gift card after you use it, how could anyone use it twice???

Knowing this question is likely not allowed, I instead put on my “DUMB GIRL” voice to appease any tension in the situation.  (This is not something I have control over, it seems.)  “HAHAHA I’M SO SORRY, I AM ALWAYS SO CONFUSED BY STUFF, HAHA. EXCUSE ME”.

I now owe $20 and confidently swipe my debit card.  I was worried about using it because today rent was due, so I know there is $800 less in my account.  I also know I am due for SO MANY car repairs that I have also put off since the summer and the list is getting hard to keep up with.  There are two immediate needs I know I need to pay for in the next week alone before I even get to the next stuff.  Knowing my car will not pass inspection until I address all the needs on the car repair list, I have been putting that off as well.

Anyways, I am so happy I walked into that grocery store today, because we really do need help with our Eversource bill!  And also, I’m glad that listening to this guy and accepting his help granted me a discount on my groceries.  However, I am still left wondering why the cashier didn’t want to accept my gift card.  Maybe he just didn’t like the looks of me and wanted to give me trouble?  Maybe he himself doesn’t fully understand how the eversource gift cards work?  I’ll never know I guess and it doesn’t matter.

But yea, isn’t america WEIRD?