My Grandmother and Napkins

My mom's mom, who we all called Nanny, was alive during the Great Depression.

When I would eat at her house, she would tear a napkin in two, and give me half.

"Why can't I have a whole napkin, Nanny?" I would ask.

"Napkins are expensive," she would answer. "You don't need a whole one."

I thought of Nanny tonight as I was tearing small squares of toilet paper from the roll to make it last longer.

I still have three rolls.

But I haven't seen toilet paper on grocery store shelves in more than ten days.

I never thought I would have to worry about toilet paper in my lifetime.

librarianintx