Life in America has become a challenge, to say the least. This week I had the pleasure of trying to find toilet paper. Yes, we are in an era that a shortage of toilet paper and all grocery paper products have the same demand as the Cabbage Patch dolls of 1983. Even though the doll was a fad, toilet paper, tissues, and paper towels are essential in everyone's home.

I was down to my last four rolls and realized if I did not find some soon, I would have to improvise and that seemed a bit too extreme for toilet paper. Yes, I have a few rolls of paper towels, but I am in an apartment and if it caused a plumbing issue would a repairman come into my home and can I trust he is not a carrier. These are all things to consider.

Someone suggested I order some on Amazon or another online site. Unfortunately, after selecting the brand and amount I wanted and proceeded to make the purchase, the delivery date from Amazon for the toilet paper could not be guaranteed and the suggested date was between May 5, through May 22, which is not an ideal timeframe. Trying several other brands and amounts did not change the suggested delivery date either.

On to Target, Publix, and Walmart; all sites were in-store purchases only and not one store showed any on their shelves in the Central Florida area. Then I tried BJs, Costco, and Office Depot only to find the same situation. All had out of stock listed under their price.

Of course, this means I had to go in a different direction, wake up at the crack of dawn and the time I usually spend doing my morning exercise would be spent standing in a local grocery store line probably not in the suggested six-foot distance. Even though I am considered a senior citizen to some, Publix was not allowing my age range in the early morning shopping hours. The next closest store was a CVS, but their prices even before the shortage were too high, and I still don't want to invest my retirement savings on a pack of toilet paper. Might as well go to the bank a get a couple hundred in one-dollar bills.

I have been working from home for the past two weeks and yesterday, I had to go to the office early in the morning to distribute checks to our suppliers. I made a b-line to the Walmart Neighborhood store and as I am parking my car see customers leaving the store with packages of toilet paper. Oh, the excitement to know I might have hit the jackpot my first attempt to find the elusive product. I grabbed a grocery cart, (by the way there was a sign that stated they were sanitized,) and headed into the store. I could see a few dozen people mulling up and down the aisle. Most did not have the prize item in their cart and I was afraid I had missed my opportunity.

I searched the signs above to find the aisle with toilet paper. It usually is in the far end of any grocery store and instead of putting the pallets in the middle of the store like they do hurricane water, they stocked the shelves. I turned the corner and at first, saw nothing but bare shelves and was immediately disappointed. I proceeded down the aisle and there they were four untouched packages of large size toilet paper. Below the sign read, "One per customer." I quickly grabbed the 12 pack of double roll and then a two-pack of paper towels. I have a supply of tissues at home and I am not one to hoard. Moreover, tissue selection was not my preference anyway. There are two more weeks of isolation enforcement and I am hoping this 12 pack will last through this time frame.

In addition, I recently read a couple articles that gun sales have soared in the past three weeks. Three times higher than this time last year. I am not a fan of guns, I don't have the desire to get one for protection. If someone wants to break into my home and steal my things, they have had it. I also don't believe that civil unrest will come from this pandemic. It might be that many of those people have watched too much TV and read too many conspiracy theories on the internet. Try turning off the outside world and taking a long walk and listen to some good ole rock and roll.

Peace out.