It was a dark and stormy day, and I was out of fresh lettuce and  tomatoes.  Yes, we could have done without a salad, but dinner wouldn’t have seemed complete .  Reluctantly, I bundled up, pulled on my mittens, and drove to the store.  My nose dripped as I shivered against the wet snow.  But it was good to be inside, where I usually recognize  so many of the clerks.  I wandered past the produce section and noticed my favorite chardonnay wine on sale.  Only a few bottles were left, so I put them in my cart and proceeded to the checkout.  That was when this shocked senior got carded at the supermarket.

None of the clerks looked familiar.   I figured they must be training some new personnel.  One checkout stand was empty.  It seemed odd for a Saturday.  Most of the time, there’s a long line in every lane. Happy at the prospect of a quick checkout, I loaded my salad makings and wine on the conveyor belt.  The clerk started to add up my purchase, and then stopped.  “I’ll have to see your driver’s license.” she  warned. I gave her a blank look.

Because I  I once got mugged in their parking lot, I only carry a credit card and my car keys in my pocket.  No purse to be stolen.

Since I’ve been shopping at this store for over 30 years, and never been asked for my driver’s  license, I was flabbergasted. “Can’t you just key in my birthday?” I asked.  She frowned and shook her head.  By this time, there were people waiting behind me.  “You’re going to make them  wait while I run out in this weather to get my wallet out of my car.”  I asked.  She nodded.

I asked to see  the manager,  but he was a stranger.  Apparently, the one  I know  well had the day  off. This unfriendly guy did not offer any support, and explained the clerk was simply enforcing the Indiana State law requiring retailers to check all ID’s for for alcohol sales.  Is that crazy, or not?  And why did they suddenly change their policy after all these years. ?

That law has been on the books for over ten years, but seldom enforced.  This is the first time I’ve been asked for my driver’s license.   I don’t look like a teenager. What would happen if they sold me a bottle of wine without asking my age? Would they end up getting arrested?  Of course not.  Common sense.  Why they suddenly decided to enforce this antediluvian policy with  an octogenarian on a freezing winter day will forever remain a mystery . But I was determined to have my bargain wine, so I ran to the car and got my wallet.

The idea of giving my driver’s license  to a stranger was  unnerving.  I didn’t want it scanned. It felt like an invasion of privacy. Nevertheless, I handed it over, and left the store in a daze. But I did enjoy that glass of  chardonnay wine with dinner.