My holiday shopping secret

(it involves beans)

I struggle with shopping. Farmers markets, craft fairs and shopping malls all have the same impact on me. I get overwhelmed by the crowds. I get distracted by everything that’s going on. Most of all, I get physically tripped up by the proximity of others.

Sure, the global pandemic has helped. Me wheeling around and glaring at the person standing close to me has justified my hostility a bit. And there are still times it’s not enough.

Once, while shopping at a major Canadian retailer I couldn’t shake someone. They likely were not a loss prevention officer. They were just someone who always seemed to be looking for EXACTLY the same things I was looking for. Everywhere I went, they followed. What’s worse, they would stand behind me.

On a preverbal level, having someone looking over my shoulder is never a good experience. I tense up. I start to sweat. I stop thinking about the thing I’m doing. All my focus shifts to “How the hell do I get rid of this person?”

This particular person on this pa…