Guest Blogger Debbie Moose says:

A broken wrist meant I spent half the summer dependent upon the transportation of strangers. Getting to the grocery store – which I usually regarded as a chore to be quickly dispatched -- became an obsession.

Whenever I tagged along with an unsuspecting neighbor or friend, I bought like I was stocking up for the end of the world. I had to. I never knew for sure when I’d get another ride. I couldn’t run out of cat food -- those beasts would chew off one of my legs. And a steady supply of Oreos was getting me through the trauma.

I never turned down a ride, even if I’d just been the day before. And I never qualified for the express lane.

“You said you just needed to grab something quick for dinner,” my sister-in-law said eyeing my bulging cart. Yes, I’d sucked her in. Hey, all’s fair in grocery shopping.

I also needed help pushing the shopping cart. One handed, the cart would end up traveling in circles. And do not point out the electric cart-scooters. One of my drivers did that, and found I could still put together an excellent string of invective. Hey, it’s bad enough that the cashiers bypass age validation when I buy beer without being seen tooling around in one of those. Besides, my legs worked fine.

Naturally, the supermarket was the first place I went when I was able to drive again. The first dinner was roasted chicken, fried okra and fresh corn. Yes, my husband had to put the roasting pan in the oven, but I made the meal myself. It tasted like … freedom.

Have you ever had to depend on the transportation of strangers? How did it go for you?

Debbie Moose is the author of four cookbooks. Her latest is “Potato Salad: 65 Recipes from Classic to Cool.” Check out her blog, Moose Musings.