by Claire
But not for any reason at all for what produce I eventually did get! Instead for the comedy of errors that the adventure became! The instructions said that pick up began at 7:15 and lasted only 20 minutes. My 12-year-old son had a UIL competition at 8 am only about 15 minutes from the produce pick up spot. Sounded like the timing was going to be perfect! So we left at 645 am just to be safe–it was very foggy and misty here this morning–and then the adventure began. We got about a mile from the house and realized that someone took the reusable grocery bags I had put in the van for the produce pick up OUT of the van. Why is it that someone decides to be helpful the one time it is not helpful? 😉 So we turned around and got the bags from the house and hit the road again. I was going to an area that I am not very familiar with and my sense of direction is a hazard to myself, loved ones and those around me on the roads. I had my son in charge of GPS on my phone and as he was reading streets to me none of them sounded familiar. We drove about a mile trying to figure out why it was giving us road numbers that were not in our city…that’s when we realized the “public transit” button was activated so we were getting bus numbers…not road numbers. Problem corrected and we continue on…now side note…my girlfriend was going to pick up the produce to begin with but since I had to be up so early to get my son to the UIL meet, I figured it would be easy for me to handle. I should remember that rarely are the easy things easy.
After a couple of u-turns and a total of more miles than necessary, we found the location. We knew it was the location b/c there were cars parked everywhere and then…a line that was definitely at least 30 minutes and I only had about 20 to give! It was not nearly as organized as I expected it to be and I can see that there is a shortage of volunteers. If we contiue with this we will definitely have to sign up to help. So as I am watching the clock and my already nervous son becomes more nervous, I had to bail. While the priority was certainly getting him to the school…I will share that once again all of you popped into my head! I did NOT want to have to report that I just threw $20 in the trash AND the $20 of my girlfriend in the trash! I could hear your collective groan!
But I knew I had to get my son where he needed to be. As it turned out I was just completely wrong about where I was taking him to begin with and as I made my way to the school I thought was the correct location he corrected me…this added about 10 minutes to the drive but thankfully…I got him there with 15 to spare. Now it was decision time…do I go back to see if they are still at the produce distribution site?! I DID think about the gas I was using (progress) and DID hesitate to now drive 10 or 15 miles back…but I also hated the thought of just giving up.
So away I went! That’s when I heard from my co-conspirator on this grand produce idea by telephone. The produce police HAD BEEN looking for me and I better just turn right around b/c they were leaving and that was that. Oh! I was SO disappointed! While we chatted she had a call interrupt ours and sure enough…it was last chance Produce Paula grumbling to my friend that she would wait for me if I was nearby! I was nearby having JUST entered the turnaround to head back to my house. So I quickly ducked into a parking lot in an attempt to get back to the main street that goes toward the produce place instead of making a complete, near 1.5 mile turnaround by having to go up to the next exit! Easy enough, right? Wrong. I chose a parking lot to a NEW GIGANTIC HEB PLUS and then got trapped in a maze of detours! Finally finding my way to an exit back on the access road I am slowing down to yield and someone turns in, stops and proceeds to roll down their window asking me for directions!!! Uh…really? Because I look like I know what I am doing? “Don’t go that way!” I said pointing to the store parking lot! What a fiasco. So I am forced to turn right….make my way ALL the way down the access road, hit the turnaround, change my direction back toward the produce place and what is my thought?
“The readers are going to say I am using too much gas on this adventure for $20 worth of produce!!!”
I knew I was at that point but was SO close to success I couldn’t stop now! I round the corner coming up on the 5 volunteers all waiting for me and all not looking very pleased to be doing so! I exited my vehicle profusely apologizing trying to outline my insane morning and no one was amused. I proceeded to receive a lecture of sorts from Produce Polly and yes, it was well deserved. Those ladies DO work hard and get up very early and should not have to wait for a maniac like me to get my act together and pick up produce.
I am happy to report that I LOVE what my produce collection came with though! We got lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cauliflower, aspargus, green beans, yellow onions, garlic, cilantro, poblano and anaheim peppers, a spaghetti squash, the pineapples, green onions, key limes, apples and other things I can’t remember right now. AND hubby made migas (okay y’all are going to think all we eat is some version of a taco every day and…you might be right) and I made a yummy salsa with the peppers, onion and tomatillos. 🙂 Not bad after that exhausting journey to get produce! I’ll give it another try now that I understand what I am doing and most importantly I won’t have somewhere else to be after pick up!!!
Born and raised in Texas. I’ve at least driven through every state in the US courtesy of a roadtrip loving Dad.
I’m single with two children and a good parenting relationship with their father.
I am a “life is just half full of funny” kinda gal. Humor is my saving grace and I am thankful for it every single day. I have a strong Catholic faith and am thankful for that foundation.
I read a lot for a living but still enjoy a good book. I love biographies but in recent years have found the need for fun fictional books–sadly, for a long time I just didn’t enjoy fiction!
I love live theatre of any kind–from local productions to Broadway.
I love to scrapbook and pride myself in my kids’ albums.
I love being a mom but also love my career. I’m blessed to have found a balance allowing me to be at everything my kids need and want me to be at–while also having a career.
Favorite Quotes: Well behaved women rarely make history.
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. -James Bryant Conant
hahahaha at least it sounded like an interesting journey! You know though it was not just about your $20 it was also about losing your friends $20 which would of had me doing what I had to do to pick up the order! Glad you got it though even if you got a lecture from Produce Polly!
We just found a cultivator at a thrift store so looks like we will be growing our own garden this year!
At least you got it! My CSA delivers… I’ve decided that the discount for picking it up at a site is just not worth the risk of me not getting there!
We have something like that here, I love picking up my produce! Ours is split into little “depots” all over the city. The closest one to me is in a church by our house. There is only a few people who pick up at the depot – I couldn’t imagine standing in a huge line like that!
So now you know you have to add the cost of the gas and the time spent to the cost of the produce and ask yourself if it is worth it.
By my reckoning, it costs you at least an hour of time to pick up your produce (not including dropping off at your friend’s house.)
What if you have a chance to work that day? Will you be able to fit that in with the produce pickup or will that cost you the option of earning extra income?
Of course, if your friend is willing to take on the pick-up then you are fine.
No blame here – these sorts of things happen! And next time you’ll be able to plan better.
Confession: I wasted a little over half of my CSA share this year because I didn’t have the time or desire to drive an hour roundtrip to pick it up. The attempts at organizing more local pickup were also an epic disaster.
This year, I will buy produce from the farmers market I can walk to.