The other people
In the natural food store
Buy tea
From the tea aisle
That equals the size of
The cereal aisle
At the real food store
They buy
Organic produce
Apples
That wear their blemishes proudly
Kale
That hasn’t been washed
And mystery fruit
That isn’t sold
At the real food store
They buy
Fairly traded dark chocolate
Wrapped in purple wrappers
Displayed by the cash register
Just like the Skittles
At the real food store
They buy
Gluten free
Pasta
Crackers
Cookies
Brownie mixes
and Flour
That I know I’ve seen
At the real food store
But it probably has even less gluten
At the natural food store
I walk past
The soy candles
The goat milk soap
And the environmentally friendly detergent
To very back of the natural food store
Where bulk products are repackaged
Into clear plastic bags
Held shut with twist ties
I no longer have to search
Among the chia seeds
And cashews
I know right where to find
What feeds my addiction
“Back again?”
The clerk asks
(or did he smirk?)
As I place
Yet another
Bag of
Crystallized ginger
On the counter
They don’t sell it
At the real food store
I originally wrote this post in June 2018 — and it has existed quietly in my draft folder since. Until today, when the RDP prompt word “mystery” brought it to the fore.
Who knows what that mystery fruit was or is at the Health Food Store, but I’m grateful for it.
Hot Dogs and Marmalade 
Crystalized ginger is a thing?
Not only is it a thing, it is amazing.
Crystallized gingers sound delicious.
It’s kind of funny, but I haven’t bought it for a while. I wrote that post eight years ago. I may need to make a trip to the natural food store today.