Once inside I was making my usual rounds when I suddenly remembered I ought to make a beeline to the paper goods aisle. And there, almost mirage-like, were a couple dozen packages of toilet paper ... and even more of paper towels. There was liquid soap, too.
I grabbed one package each of toilet tissue and towels and some hand soap. My shopping trip would have been complete even if I ended it right there.
But I was able to get everything else on my list — picked up not in the usual circular way, around the perimeters first then aisle by aisle but by zigzagging from one potentially scarce set of items to another. Skim milk. Check. Spaghetti. Check. Bread. Check.
Back home now, with cans and packages wiped down and put away ... I'm ready for a nap.
(Another day, another store. This week I was able to find everything on my list!)