“Like many, my girlfriend keeps her grocery list fastened to her refrigerator door with a magnet. She updates it regularly, as she runs out of items — almond milk, orange juice, fruits and veggies. But written below her weekly shopping list, on the same sheet of paper, is a separate list, a special one.

“It compiles her post-apocalypse must-haves, items like invulnerable canned goods and long-lasting bulk foods, such as dried beans and rice.

“One Saturday evening, I silently read down her most recent list as she rushed around the house to get ready for our dinner date . . .” Read more.