The Linda Letters by Gabriel O'Sullivan: Behind The Times

09 July 2022

1074

R. Linda:

I live in a rural town, known for its horsey set which seems caught back in time when it comes to modern conveniences. Just getting the Internet took years and only within the past two years have we had something faster than dial-up. I still need a satellite dish for my telly, alas no cable YET.

Progress is being made, albeit slowly, but all the same, I'll take any innovation the horsey set wants to throw me way. Anything to make frontier living better and this way I don't lose contact with the real world, far, far away in the big city of Boston.

There are no supermarkets to speak of UNLESS you live near Manchester, Nashua, or Concord. There be some half-sized markets spread out here and there in the more populated and wealthy communities, oh yes, there are, but where I live within the boundaries of the horsey set, well, we have notta. No, not even a general store, no business at all really unless you include the Town Hall where one counts over their tax payment.

You ask, so what do you do Gabe? Stop off in Boston on your way home for groceries and if you do, wow that ice cream will be a melted mess by the time you arrive at your abode. Well, Gabe fans THAT was what I did if we needed milk or say . . . ice cream. And you will be correct in thinking the milk went sour, and the ice cream, hum -- looked like buttermilk.

With the advent of a speedier Internet came a store! Yes, R. Linda, a store of sorts a town over. Not our little horsey town, oh no, we couldn't have a blight like THAT. But the town next to us which is considered a poor place THEY have a store, a convenience store (which I will accept since milk and ice cream live in their freezer department, small as it be).

At first, we were all over there, this store was built like a small warehouse, yes, it was as large as those half-sized markets combined. It had no produce or meat section, but oh me oh my, the SNACK section was the whole store! Crisps and candy, soda, ice cream, no Half and Half though. This place had painted-on windows so no one could look in or out for that matter. Who does that? I thought it odd, but I never voiced an opinion until now. And what is the name of this glorious snack haven? THE DOLLAR GENERAL that's what and I dare you to find anything in there for a dollar because you won't.

Notice the painted-on windows. Well, I know why they are painted on, to give the illusion that someone's home. Not so fast, after a year of being open and busy, the place has gone to pot it has. I went in and the neat clean aisles were strewn with products, or overflowing so it was hard to find what you went in for. I was puzzled by all this, but then I heard jobs weren't full and only a few people were there to check you out.

Recently, four times in fact I have driven up to the store and they have been closed. At 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and 8:00 p.m. A big sign on the door CLOSED.

The last three times I drove up to find it was closed tighter than a drum. The first time it said: "Closed - BBL." Well, when was later? The next time it said: "Closed - Will return." WHEN? The last time it said: "Closed - I'll let you know." WHAT?

I have to wonder when the products will go bad if they don't open again. Crisps may last for a long time, but I be smelling sour milk I be. Hum.

THIS be what the place looks like now, a bit overgrown as well. What happened?