Shopper can easily remedy problems

Letter writer Penny Novy (Fence Post, Sept. 6) has a dilemma and asks two questions. The first was "Why do retired people have to be in the grocery store at 5 p.m. on Friday?" Perhaps they ran out of some item on Friday; another possibility is that they have had medical appointments earlier in the day (or week; if they are "lane-blockers" in the aisles, the phrase "excuse me" usually works and no doubt the retired person hates to drive during the rush hour along with all the other rushees!

Question No. 2 concerned housewives with children; the children may be seated in the grocery cart, crying or running about , bumping into people. I agree that parents/caregivers should keep the youngsters under control and teach them appropriate public behavior. However, an upset 2-year-old cannot always be immediately silenced. The letter writer, on the other hand, has the freedom to wheel her cart away from the screamer.

The writer's sister gave sage advice to their mother when she insisted the mother stay "off the roads during rush hour, and also out of local restaurants at lunchtime when working people are trying to get a meal." My husband and I avoid rush hour traffic as much as possible and long ago changed our lunch hour.

If all of us thought about the problems of others, instead of our own inconveniences, it would be a more pleasant world. Until then, maybe the writer should shop at 2 a.m. or join a "Complainers Anonymous" chapter.

Patricia D. Herrmann

Arlington Heights