The Big Apple?

I am back in the world and already experiencing the backlash. It has indeed been way too long since I've been about town. It seems as though inflation has already gone through the roof and here is my proof (poet and didn't know it):

Today I did not bring my lunch to work as I had lunch plans with a colleague. However, since the plans were postponed, I was forced to go hunting and find something to eat. I decided that I'd not only be healthy, but cheap as well. With this clever idea, I went to Duane Reade (New York's Walgreens) and bought some Healthy Choice soup for $3 or so. I knew that I would not eat it all and therefore it would become two $1.50 meals. Genius!

I then decided that I needed a piece of fruit to accompany my deliciously cheap meal, and that I could well afford an apple. In my new found cockiness, I strutted into a little market across from work and picked me out a red apple. Shiny and round.

I checked myself out in its reflection, really feeling awesome about my previous thrifty and healthy transaction. By the purchase of the soup and now this apple, I was taking on two resolutions at once: Lose the extra lbs and save the mula. I was at the height of my resolution making.

It wasn't until the clerk repeated herself that I realized that she was speaking to me: "That'll be $1.25." Of course, this statement was recited in that snarky New Yorker fashion that I typically find amusing when not used on me.

$1.25 for one apple. Count it...one. I know New York is the "Big Apple," but c'mon...this is stretching a bit, don't you think?

The inclusion of this apple bumped my lunch up to almost $5.00. Yes folks, I do realize that with the splitting of the soup, it is merely averaging out to only a bit above $3.00, but it was the fact of the matter. Here I was, too shocked to remove myself out of line, paying $1.25 for ONE apple that I would enjoy in only ONE sitting. This was too much for me to take.

I decided to list some items below that one can purchased for less than $1.25...and I promise you, a mere ONE apple won't make that list.

Items that cost less than the obnoxious $1.25 New York apple:

• Green apple Jollyrancher (long version): $.80
• One song from Apple itunes: $.99 cents
• Cinnamon apple muffin: $1.09
• Apple juice: $1.19

I think you get my point here. All I have to say is if I'm spending $1.25 on ONE mere, everyday-Joe apple...how much would I need to spend to get one mango?