For the first time since I was diagnosed with cancer back in June I made a Wal-Mart run. It’s also the first time I really realized how big that store really is.

My wife Tanya doesn’t like Wal-Mart, mainly because of its size. I like Wal-Mart because of its size I can get just about anything I need when I need it.

Yesterday was grocery-shopping day and Tanya was taken aback when I told her I felt strong enough to attempt a Wal-Mart run. Since June, she’d make the run solo while I stayed home. But then she’d call three or four times to consult over specific grocery items.

I’m pretty picky and Tanya didn’t want me stressed if she should buy the “wrong” item or brand.
When we got to Wal-Mart, Tanya let me drive the cart. I also used it for support — kinda like a walker with take-along food capability. She was OK with that but hesitated whenever I bent to pick out an item.

She didn’t want me straining for anything.

I felt like a dork when we checked out and I stood around watching as Tanya loaded the cart. It was pretty heavy when it was fully loaded, so Tanya did the pushing and unloading while I sat in the car.

When we got home we opened the bags one by one. My job was to get the perishables into the refrigerator or freezer. When I finished that I started on canned goods and boxed items.

That’s when I rapidly started to lose energy.

So, as my medical knowledge grows along with my cancer treatment I’ve discovered it’s not the Wal-Mart run that is exhausting — it’s putting up the stuff afterward.