Common Courtesy

Common Courtesy seems to be a lost art in our society today. Everyone looking out for themselves and not for each other. While I normally try to tell a good story and be happy on this little blog of mine, today I need to share something that happened to me at the grocery store.

We took a trip to the mountains this past weekend and we had a fun and relaxing time. But of course we never want to leave so we always end up leaving and hour or so behind schedule. We took the long scenic route back down 221 and skipped the interstate all together, we also stopped a couple of times for Ivy of course and we didn't get home until about 7 o'clock Monday night. So the last thing I really want to be doing is unpacking, doing laundry and yes one of my least favorite chores...grocery shopping.

I'm at Publix and it's about 9 o'clock. I make it through the store in record time only to realize I forgot to get milk and Ivy has to have milk! Lots and lots of milk! So I push my buggy to the back of the store to get the milk and as I'm crossing the isles an old lady comes out of one of them and rams my cart. I mean she didn't even hit the brakes! Just rammed right into me! Now I love old people and I'll stick up for them when I see someone being rude or help them if they need help. I think they deserve that respect. Well she just looked at me like it was my fault...so I said to myself "whatever she must not have seen me and she's in shock that she did that" and I said to her with a smile "sorry about that, excuse me." I got my milk and moved on.

I'm standing in line at the register and I'm behind a couple of people with small buggy loads. Since it's so late they only have 2 registers open. The one that I'm standing in line for and the "10 items or less" lane. So I'm just standing there waiting my turn when all of a sudden a buggy rams into my heels...hard! It really hurt bad, actually brought tears to my eyes (but I sucked it up). I turned around and it's the same old lady! Really?!?!?!?! She just looks at me and stares me down with her nose stuck up in the air. And all I could do is just look at her in shock. There was no "I'm sorry" or "Excuse Me" or "wow, my buggy really gets away from me sometime."

So as I stare back at her in disbelief I'm wondering...did she do that on purpose? Did I make her mad in a previous life? Did I cut her off while driving? I mean "COME ON LADY!" Nothing, no apology, no oops. I decide to not let my temper get the best of me and I go about my business. As I cautiously go to the front of my buggy (because I don't want to turn my back on her) I start to unload it. When I hear a voice say "You sure do have a lot in your buggy." I look up and it was her...the old woman. Now I want everyone to know that on any normal night I would have gladly let anyone go in front of me if they only had a few items...old or young, common courtesy right? But I just looked at her and responded with this in the firmest most sarcastic voice I could without yelling...."Yeah I sure do, so why don't you go over to the 10 items or less lane." She just stared at me and I stared back. She eventually left and walked to the other lane, score 1 for me. The cashier looked at me and smirked as she started ringing up my groceries. I was just relieved that the lady wasn't behind me anymore. But trust me I made sure I was very careful leaving because I didn't want her ramming into my car!