Flashbacks To Childhood

Shopping San Terenzo style prompted flashbacks to my childhood. When as a youngster I had walked with my mother to the local shops; my brother, is his stroller was pushed. We regularly made that walk, to make our purchases. In those days each vendor specialised in one or only a few items. The butcher sold only meat and the green grocer fruit and vegetables. Each shopping expedition a very personal experience. Customer and vendor interacted on a familiar level, calling each by name and local issues were discussed or people took time for social banter. In those days shopping tours were regular since food storage capacity was very limited. I recall the brown paper bags of items individually selected. San Terenzo shopping hasn't changed for what appears to be generations. We stopped at and shopped at the green grocer, the butcher, the bakery and the deli to make our purchases for dinner. Simple family businesses in shop fronts only wider than the doorways. The butcher shop was no more than 3 metres wide with one glass display cabinet running down one side. Four customers were considered a crowd and filled the shop. The mother served us cheerfully with her son at her right elbow and her husband at the end of the chopping block. Little space to pass one another but personal service guaranteed. Mum took our order chopped, trimmed, weighed and wrapped our steaks. All with a smile. We took great delight in unpacking the shopping. In opening each little paper bag I opened another memory from my past.