I always look at the stuff people buy when they come through the “check-your-own-damn-stuff-out” lane. Are they embarrassed at the things they are buying? Do they just not want to talk to anyone? Are they packing their bags in their own weird way?

I watched a 40-ish lady today buying a bunch of travel sized items: toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, shampoo, hairspray and body wash all in men friendly brands or scents. From men’s clothing, she bought four pair of jeans, two pair of denim shorts, two pair of athletic shorts, two polos, two crew necks, two pair of jammie pants, a pack of briefs and and a pack of socks.

I wondered who she was buying these items for. I imagined a husband going on a trip. Or an adult son – maybe a long trip to a Third World Nation. Ooh, an adult son joining the Peace Corps. There, I got it, I have it all figured out.

When she finished, she looked at me and confessed the reason for her purchase. This doesn’t happen very often and is why I play the guessing game.

“My husband’s getting out of prison tomorrow. He doesn’t have anything. I have to buy everything for him. We’ve been married 22 years and he’s been in prison for 12 years. He doesn’t know how he’s going to handle being on the outside. I booked us a hotel room for two days so he can adjust.”

This was not the storyline I had going in my head and I don’t know why this woman opened up to me. I told her that I have a relative in prison as well, so I know what she has been going through. I told her I wished them all the best. I didn’t know what else to say…