Are we going to make it?

I am not referring to the supposed rapture that was miscalculated by five months.  No, I am thinking about toothpaste.  A peculiar situation to be sure.

 

I am often asked where we get our food.  People find it most fascinating that we don't have a grocery store within 15 miles, unless you count the Mom & Pop Pantry about 3/4 of a mile down the road.  While we do most of our grocery shopping about every 5 weeks in the big cities with large grocery store chains - often stopping at no less than three stores to buy food and beverages, Thomas can stop at the Supersave in Raton after work or the Springer Market after he and his carpooling co-worker part ways.  I can stop at the Russell's in Cimarron, too.  These places get us by in a pinch, like when we ran out of tortillas yesterday.  They are pricier on non-perishables, and the produce is not usually prime, but when you need something, it is great.

 

Toothpaste is another matter all together.  One of us does not want fluoride in the toothpaste.  Incidentally, this is not the easiest variety of toothpaste to find.  One of us does not care for mint, which in and of itself is not a big deal with all the flavors of toothpaste one cane find: strawberry, mango, bubblegum, cinnamon, fennel, and ginger are just a few alternatives.  From that list of flavors, cinnamon is the only one that is mutually enjoyed.  Now go into a store with both of these specifications, and really only one toothpaste jumps off the shelf and into our basket: Tom's of Maine Cinnamint with propolys and myrrh, no fluoride.  This one toothpaste is generally only available at Natural Grocer or Whole Foods.  Safeway is now carrying some Tom's products, but nothing that matches our requirements.  We decided not to stop for it in Denver two and a half weeks ago because it seemed we would never run out.  Besides, it was the only thing we would have picked up at the store, and we didn't have time for frivolous stops.  We anticipated being in Santa Fe two weeks after Denver, which would have been just as fine a time to stop.  Then I stopped at a Whole Foods for the salad bar a week ago, but still I didn't pick it up because I thought we would be back over the weekend.  How foolish I was!  (We obviously didn't go over the weekend, or this post would be nonsense!)

 

Despite having purchased additional tubes in the past and keeping them in the bathroom closet, it seemed we really couldn't go through the toothpaste fast enough.  Until now!  We are rationing out the last bit on our toothbrush each night, and on one of ours in the morning.  We have already reached the awkward squeeze where it takes muscle to bend the metal of the tube just right.  We have been watching our supply go down the drain with every spit and hope we can make it to Saturday.  Yes, our oasis in the desert of toothpaste is only a couple days away.  Jennifer and Mary are coming down from Denver to visit, and Jennifer is bringing us toothpaste!  Just two more days....