Isn't it great? We're all using our own bags now!

And you know how I feel about canvas bags...as always, Pigdump, ahead of the trend!

But here's the dopey thing...

Every time I go to my local Foola or IGA or YIG or Metro or Zehrs or Sobeys (you get the picture), I come prepared with one or two branded canvas bags in which to stow my sundries (and you know how THAT can hurt.) I feel all righteous as I tell the checkout person...who are we kidding... the checkout lady that I have my own bags. My green grocery experience. Wuhoo!

So she swipes and weighs the items one by one, moving them along to the end of the line, and my sundries pile up (and you know how THAT can hurt.) No one is putting my items in my bags. So I have to. Unless it's a summer weekend when they know the store will be crowded and they have extra staff, the checkout lady is on her own. And because I have my own bags, I guess I have to fill 'em!

HUH?

So we've moved to being greener...I suppose paying the 5 cents for a plastic bag pays for the extra work the checkout lady has to do...and we're self-serve too. Yet the prices haven't dropped. Being righteous and green only means you have to stuff all your sundries into your bag yourself (and you know how THAT can hurt), and goodness knows you haven't been to sundries-stuffing school so the bananas get squished, the sharp corner of your cereal box rips the bag of milk, the brine from your feta leaks all over the shaved ham...

Sigh.

So we've become greener and self-righteous...no greener and self-serving...or something.

Or maybe it's just me.

Thanks and good luck.