I Robot

 

Summer is here. It is hot. Chores have moved ahead to the morning hours. After daybreak wander out for my trip to the Tummy Temple and feeding the breakfast crew. Not sure they will let me leave without their blueberry time. I’m out numbered.

Trying to await the trucks with ladders find their way, I find my familiar path through the quiet neighborhood with little traffic. Smile at a few joggers and mothers pushing babies trying not thinking about what I’m doing and getting wobbly.

The temperature hasn’t gotten hot yet, but when I return will be different.

The usual place to lock up is available and the routine of removing my helmet, locking up my u-lock, pulling out my bag and putting on a mask. I luckily find a zip cart outside and go through the automatic parting doors, but something is different.

There is a uniformed security guard wearing a mask in the entrance? I didn’t see any emergency vehicles or yellow tape outside, but there she was guarding the watermelons. When I asked her if I should be wary in entering, she replied she was just here for the day.

Upon entering the produce section there is a pack of white people in suits with balloons that were not there yesterday. I turned right to avoid the hubbub and asked one of my peeps what was going on? She informed me there were a to-do with the mayor and Kroger executives and television cameras.

Hummm?

Move on to get the blueberries, veggie tray, peanuts, seed, popcorn and hydration without hearing any trumpets or announcements of royalty in the Tummy Temple.

There was another difference.

Other than the call of ‘Clean Up on Aisle 12’ or some guy with a broom, there is a zamboni wandering around.

So now with the bumper cars and the pick-up wagons and the huge wire carts being pulled, pushed or parked; there is now an automated floor sweeper filling up the aisles.

It would make sense when the store is closed and no elderly folks are wandering the aisles but when the store is full of parishioners searching for their olives and spaghetti sauce?

This ‘thing’ is an automated machine with no one to run it. The ‘thing’ seems to depend on flashing lights and scanners to go around corners without running into anyone or knocking over a display of wine bottles.

I got to my checkout spot without a confrontation with suits, security or roaming machinery. I gave my code to another machine who always ask who I am though I’m here everyday and escape.

I did tell the security guard that I felt safe with here being there.