Grocery Store Olympics!

My quest for gold.

Shopping at my local French grocery store can feel like an Olympic event. I’m currently at maybe bronze level, but of course, like all Olympians, I have my eye on gold.

The warm-up begins in the parking lot as I look for a parking space large enough to squeeze my large Volvo SUV into. This is when I pine away for my zippy little Mini Cooper that I sold back in L.A. We bought the Volvo when we were just coming for summers because it was the only used car we could find that could hold four large, American-size suitcases (the kind of suitcase that should never board any European train, just so you know!). And it’s also a hybrid so that helps with French gas prices! But I feel a bit like a bull in a china shop driving this thing around town!

Does my butt look big in this?

Once secured in my spot, the next step is to rummage around for the cart token. The grocery stores in France have this cart thing all figured out. You cannot get a cart unless you place a token (or Euro) into this little …