I stopped into my friendly neighborhood Happy Foods for a few items the other day. I find that I’m shopping less and less often for myself these days; and why not…..I’m cooking less and less. As a matter of fact, I barely cook at all anymore. Between throwing something together quickly so that I can get back to what’s really important…..blogging and ‘all things computer' or dining out with my daughter and/or son, my kitchen and I have all but become ‘strangers in the night.’ But, I digress.
While leisurely strolling through the fruit and vegetable section, I am abruptly stopped in my tracks by someone’s cart crashing into mine….right smack dab in front of the bananas. I turn around to see the culprit. It was a lady, if I were to guess, somewhere in her late forties to mid-fifties staring straight at me with this strange combination scowling/‘deer-in-the-headlights’ look. I’m thinking, ‘Okay, was I the intended target or was she just not paying attention to where she was going?’ By the vacuous look on her face, I’m guessing the latter.
How awkward. But, I say to myself….’no big deal.’ I just cleared the air by saying “Oh, I’m sorry,” thinking it may elicit an apology from the person who should be saying it in the first place. NOTHING! Not even an acknowledgement of MY gesture. Okay then….
Gingerly moving away from the scene of the crime, I head elsewhere…..but not before noticing that Miss Congeniality was not alone. Coming up quickly behind her was a gentleman (and I use that term loosely) with something on his mind and anger in his voice.
“I told you to hurry up, and look you’ve hardly started. What the heck is wrong with you? I told you to get this done earlier.”
Oh Lord….I hate scenes and people who make them.
Miss Congeniality yelled something back at Mr. Bully….and it began…..with apparently neither one of them caring less who heard them. I felt like I should be standing there with a microphone yelling…..”ARE YOU READY TO RUMMMMMMMBLE?”
Now it started to make sense….the look on her face and the crashing into my cart. She was on a mission…..a frantic one; but apparently it wasn't fast enough for Mr. Bully. Still…..no excuse for her rudeness, I thought.
As luck would have it….and the layout of the store, I had the pleasure of running into this charming couple down every aisle; and they were going at each other in every one of them. You didn’t need to be right there with them; you could hear them from anywhere in the store.
I thought I’d test that theory; and after my misfortune of running into them down four consecutive aisles….I just skipped past a few and went to the other end of the store. Holy Guacamole! I could still hear them…..it was frightening. And they had turned it up a notch by adding some juicy four-letter words to their tirade. How lovely. Thanks so much for the lesson in body parts.
What in the world is so dysfunctional in these two human beings that would make them act this way….for so long…..AND think it’s okay to subject everyone else to it?
There’s nothing like a good dose of embarrassing humiliation, even if it’s not your own, to cut a shopping trip short….which I did. But for the time I was forced to tolerate their ridiculous display, my face was frozen in a permanent ‘cringed’ expression. Very similar to many of the other faces I encountered rushing to the checkout line. Some rolled their eyes. Some sighed in disgust. But we were all on the same mission……to leave the store as quickly as possible.
I could see the manager of the store sitting in his little loft peeking over the top every so often. He looked amazingly pink-cheeked. He may witness this kind of thing a lot more frequently than I, but I think this was even too much for him....and he couldn't leave like the rest of us. I wonder if he debated about saying something to the deadly duo who were making his Happy Foods...not very happy.
All Right!! Guess where I'm stopping tomorrow!
Posted by: SonJoe | November 01, 2007 at 04:34 AM
Oh, man, I hate this kind of thing, Joy. Really. What IS wrong with people in this day and age who think it's OK to toss simple civility aside in public? Free speech, indeed! I'm sure you weren't the only one hustling to door as quickly as you could!
Posted by: Mary B | November 01, 2007 at 10:20 AM
I do, on occasion, rememeber being a 'little' guilty of this myself when I had small ones in tow. Having said that, maybe stores that have NO SMOKING signs should NO BICKERING and NO SWEARING signs as well.
Posted by: Tabor | November 01, 2007 at 10:44 AM
I guess I am lucky, because I have not run into this kind of situation much - and I'm very glad I haven't!
Posted by: kenju | November 01, 2007 at 03:32 PM
A well-told story that resonated with me yesterday when I read it for the first time. I've passed it along twice (in the oral tradition) and am sure it will be with me for a long time. Has awareness of self & others become obsolete out there in our world, or is "all the world a stage" ... and are these inconsiderate folk "auditioning" for the next "reality show"? Sometimes I feel like a dinosaur ... but methinks I'm in good company out here in the Blogosphere. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: storyteller | November 02, 2007 at 11:23 AM
Your story reminds me of the time Hub and I went to a Rodeo dance. I was so envious of the couples who left the hall for privacy to cuddle in the parking lot. I wanted to go outside too and Hub took me but he warned me with a knowing grin, "You're too much of a romantic," he said. "They're not going out to cuddle."
He took me outside and what a revelation. Those cosy couples were all having a set to about their mates looking at someone else, dancing too close, flirting. Vulgarity at a roaring pitch.
Posted by: Roberta S | November 02, 2007 at 02:52 PM
Oh! Joy you brought back a terrific radio memory.Who can ever forget Don Ameche and Frances Langford as John and Blanche Bickerson?
Blanche made John take 2 jobs for a total of 16 hours a day in order to bring in more money which she squandered on the stock market.
Meanwhile John couldn't afford new shoes so he painted his feet black.
In the few hours he got to sleep she would nag him all night with accusations that he didn't love her. His only comeback to her was an insult which he was pretty good at.
What a funny show it was. Good for you,,Joy, for remembering two great talents and the enjoyment they brought to their radio audience.
Posted by: Nancy | November 02, 2007 at 06:05 PM
Hi Joy! Thank you for turning unpleasant everyday events into entertaining write.
Yes, some people have little self-concept or dignity. Perhaps they're not aware that they made others cringed!
If the cashier were a writer, he'd have loads of stories to write. May a nobel prize winner one day?!
Posted by: twilite | November 02, 2007 at 10:02 PM
No wonder you're cooking less. Sounds like your "happy" store is a combat zone. I think you better wear a hard hat the next time you go to shop. You may want to consider taking a class on shopping cart defensive techniques. I think they also offer one on offensive maneuvers should you decide you want to do a little battering yourself. Now I know why I'm going to continue eating out more.
Posted by: joared | November 03, 2007 at 03:39 AM
It is so uncomfortable and embarrassing when people do that in public - can you imagine how they behave when alone????? I hope you got to buy more than cheese sandwiches :) - Happy Foods! That's a good one. Take care Joy.
Posted by: Suzann | November 03, 2007 at 08:30 AM
I don't want to think what it must be like at home!
I too cook less and less! Just getting lazy AND putting on weight
Posted by: Claude | November 03, 2007 at 05:14 PM
What an awful life these two people have - so obviously not happy! And I'm sorry your shopping trip was cut short. It makes a screaming toddler in a shop just that bit more bearable after listening to this tale.
Posted by: jen at semantically driven | November 04, 2007 at 02:31 AM
Wow, what a Joyus occasion (pun intended) for you and all the other shoppers, some people should not be let off their chains.
Posted by: Peter | November 04, 2007 at 09:41 PM
Elsie has a slightly similar story on her blog. What is it with these people?
Posted by: Liz | November 07, 2007 at 12:30 PM
Well, add THAT one to the "Stupid Things to Do in Happy Foods." Don't you wish someone had walked up and smacked them with a wet mop?! But had it happened, the smacker would be posting bail and the smackees would be home with their frozen dinners and beer.
Posted by: Suzz | November 07, 2007 at 08:30 PM