The many messages of a carton of eggs
Let's talk about that unattainable “oval office” — a carton of eggs.
Our local store asks us not to buy more than two cartons at a time. Last week, I agreed to pay a hefty eight-and-a-half dollars (probably more now) for my brand — although that was for 18 eggs. There's a laugh-out-loud meme floating the Internet with a guy on his knee at the beach proposing to his girl — by holding out a carton of eggs. The caption says, “Impress her with something expensive.”
It's really not that I agreed to pay that price. I had no other choice. I wasn't going to poach — I've never liked my eggs that way, anyway. That is what the cashier rang up. Since then, I've gathered some whopping facts along with my eggs — and I'm just glad there are any eggs to buy, at any price.
Bird flu — or “highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)” — killed 13.2 million commercial hens in the month of December. Once the virus is detected, the egg farmer has to destroy the entire population of hens to ensure HPAI doesn't spread.
After that, the farm must complete a multi-step process — with government approvals — that can last anywhere from nine months to a year. It then takes another five months for a new population of hens to produce eggs. In Colorado there's now an additional factor. All eggs — beginning this year — are required to be cage-free.
That's not all. There is a shortage of truck drivers. As one person stated, “Refrigerated truck transportation is a major pain point in the food supply chain right now.” The solution for retailers is to — wherever possible — also sell locally produced eggs. If you've thought about a hens-and-friends start up, now might be the time.
Once I understood the wider frame, I switched tracks — from frustration to gratitude. That doesn't change the price of eggs, but at least I'm not standing in front of the dairy case having a major cortisol download.
There are plenty of things in my personal orbit to potentially cause stress. Eggs should not be one of them. And, if I examine the list, I can probably remove others. Sometimes it is as simple as learning a few facts — understanding more about a situation. The situation might not change, but my interpretation can.
Making that shift might open ways around it — ways to prepare for it, ways to resolve it and ways to live with it. I might actually be able to hang up on my body's own 911 call. No stress hormones needed. I have peace.
Who knew what all a carton of eggs had to say. Definitely worth the price.