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When I was growing up, my family was very close to my father’s brother and his wife.  Uncle Mark and Aunt Sarah adored us and Sarah would sometimes take my brother and I off Mum’s hands so she could go see kids’ movies without feeling awkward.  They lived (and still live) in the woods, on land that Sarah’s family owns and now have their own son, Ian, who is now seventeen and off at university.

In the last few months I have begun bonding with my aunt again.  She is into “extreme couponing”, which she uses to help a local food pantry.  I go with her to help, as she has limited mobility and gets confused sometimes.  We go on Wednesdays to some chain supermarkets and walk out with over five hundred dollars worth of food and supplies, often for a third of the price.  These get donated to help families in need, although she does keep a small amount for her own pantry.

During our jaunts we almost always stop at Publix, which has a very small section devoted to English goods.  I take a bit of cash with me and usually get a bottle of Ribena (concentrated blackcurrant juice) and a package of biscuits.  They’re a bit expensive, as they are obviously imports, but these along with the fun I share with Sarah are what make my Wednesdays very special.