List-less

I grocery shop with a list. That's actually an understatement. While at Baylor, I took a class called "Meal Management" (which was totally not in my major course of study---ironic, considering my life now) and learned the art of meal planning and grocery-list making using categories. It's wonderful; I've used the same system for 7 1/2 years, and I've never been tempted to change my tactic.

However, my Wal-Mart run is a totally different story. Since Wal-Mart is my destination of choice for diapers and other miscellaneous non-food items, I usually only need to buy 2-5 things when I shop there. So I don't really need a list. Or so I tell myself, which usually turns out to be a gross overestimation of my memory capabilities. More often than not, I end up aimlessly wandering the aisles, mentally berating myself for not actually writing out a list before I entered the store. It's funny how even when I'm sitting in the van about to enter the store, I can perfectly recall all the things on my mental list, but as soon as I enter "Stuff-Mart", my plan evaporates out my ears. Does that happen to any of you?

So anyway, last night was a perfect case in point. I made my late-night run in order that my two-year-old son would not have to squeeze into his baby sister's diapers today. I needed five other items besides diapers. I was successful in remembering two of them. Oh, and one other that I thought may have been on my list. So I stop, mid-aisle, on numerous occasions, "zoning" into outer space, trying to recall the other items on my list. More than once I was asked by a salesperson if I needed help finding anything ("yes, my brain, please"), so I know I must've looked pretty goofy and probably was even muttering to myself.

I still don't remember what those other items were that I was supposed to buy, but I did end up coming home with a large bag of Dark Chocolate M&M's and a sizeable bucket of On the Border Margarita Mix---just add Tequila---both of which were definitely NOT on my list. But I suppose they should've been, because my hubby is certainly going to make sure I continue to go to Wal-Mart without a list. It's much more fun that way.