Stealing From The Temple

 

I call them ‘zip’ carts. Some people call them ‘baby’ carts. Either way, they are the smallest wire basket on wheels and a joy to drive through the aisles of the Tummy Temple.

Yet recently, there are fewer to be found in the rolling cart corral. Where are the zip carts?

The rolling wire shopping cart was invented in the mid-30s by grocers who want to help shoppers carry more items. The typical shopping cart is made with a stainless steel wire basket (not changing to plastic) with four wheels and a handle for pushing. The baskets have gotten deeper and longer to provide space for the 10-roll toilet paper bundle or the cases of soft drinks and water.

My first use of a wire-shopping cart was that little two wheel-folding wagon you see the old folks us. It held one paper bag of groceries, but was awkward to use. Pulling it would hit your heels and pushing it required bending over. It was better than carrying the paper bag of heavy groceries, but not by much. If you had two bags of groceries, you could attempt to stack them on top of each other or make two trips to the grocery.

Entering the grocery store, pull one of the stables of carts jammed together, then try and find a place to put the two-wheeler for the trip home. Did I mention I didn’t have a car?

The aisles of the grocery are just wide enough for two carts to pass each other. As the carts got bigger it was difficult to pass without sideswiping one another. Some aisles were small enough for only a single file parade.

The congregation to the Tummy Temple found new ways to make the adventure of wandering the aisles a bit more frustrating. Some would start pulling the carts (with total disregard for the handle designed for pushing) taking up both sides of the street. Others would double-park their cart while standing in the other lane comparing two boxes of spaghetti for price and ingredients.

Then there are the children. There is a fold down restraining seat in most carts, but if there are two or more of them, they are placed in the basket between the eggs and the loaves of bread. While mom checks her email, the dear little bundles of joy are pulling boxes of Cho-Cho Pops or Tasty Treats off the shelves. If making faces at other contestants for breakfast cereal is not enough, they scream. Sneezing children are also a fan favorite.

For a long time there was one option for a shopping cart. If you were piling in a ton of foodstuffs or just getting a bottle of milk, you had to use the same cart. Then the traffic jam as parishioners would line up at the checkout, blocking thoroughfare while all the items were removed, charged and bagged before being placed back into the cart. Then there was the wait to find just the correct change for tithing. That is why those candy bars are next to the moving belt so you can have a snack while you wait.

Getting back to the ‘zip’ carts.

After several days of searching for them and having to settle for the behemoth battleship carts, I asked one of the blue apron deacons. “Where are all the little carts?”

“They are being stolen” was the reply.

I’ve seen the homeless pushing a grocery cart carrying all their worldly processions but I haven’t seen any homeless at the Temple when I’m shopping. There have been a few vagrants hanging around begging but they are soon shoed away under the security cameras. I’ve seen carts piled up at the bus stop for the hungry that travel public transportation.

Then there is the 5100. Across the parking lot, next door to the Tummy Temple is a tall apartment/condo structure housing elderly. It is called the 5100. There is a steady stream of blue haired grandmas crossing the barren wasteland of asphalt, sometimes assisted with an assistant or nurse, carrying their water bottles and sometimes oxygen mask headed for the welcoming doors of the Tummy Temple. Most, if not all, are pushing a ‘zip’ cart as a walker.

I understand, as I’m approaching that same age, the bulky carts are too much to handle, but these folks from the 5100 take the carts out of the store and wheel them back to their lobby to park until next use. They even put their names on them.

Since the Tummy Temple has adopted all sorts of methods for storing carts with apron youth to grab stray carts and put them back in the stable, but no one has an automated system for these $100 four-wheel carriers of grub to roll back home.

Maybe they are being stolen for the cost of metal (like catalytic convertors and copper piping)? Maybe they are being melted down to created new statues on Monument Avenue?

Since I travel to the Tummy Temple everyday (except Christmas) I only get a few items and those ‘zip’ carts are perfect for weaving around roadblocks, stopping on a dime (leaving a nickel change) and (perhaps?) using as a walker for my two-mile hike down the aisles of abundance. These little carts are just the right size to carry what will fill my two saddlebags. These carts are so popular, some will ask if they can use the cart next as I empty my purchases. “Help yourself” I reply. “I’ll keep the motor running.” It always gets a chuckle.

So if you see any of these little wire carts in your neighborhood, please send them home. I’m not ready for the bumper cars yet.