what the heck- convenience style

by photochick~ Oh, have I got a "What the Heck?" for the record books.

So I enter Tom Thumb (that's right, i'm naming names. to be precise, the one located at the corner of hwy. 77 and south blvd.) this afternoon at about 1:30 in search of a bottle of water. I had gone home for lunch and found nothing there and after 30 minutes back at work I decided I would surely thirst to death.

I walk in wearing a dress, heeled sandals and my hair actually fixed (you'll get the importance of this later) with my debit card and keys in my hand. While making a beeline for the drinks I look to my right to see the display of gift cards, which reminds me that I was supposed to purchase a few for a project. So anyway, I look at them for a while trying to figure out which ones I want. I then realize that I really need my list so that I don't forget someone.

Back out to the car it is to get my handy dandy super organizer (had to throw that in and a link). Come back into the store with said organizer, keys, phone and debit card in hand. The cashier is walking in from the back and asks, "can I help you." I think . . . odd (never known anyone at Tom Thumb to ever want to help me before . . . like, i don't know, check me out with my one bottle of water BEFORE the 12 people buying stock in the ever so efficient way to make a profit lottery). I say, "no thankyou, i'm just looking," and back to my search.

So I'm standing there in front of the display (which is directly in front of the checkout counter) with all that crap in my hands trying to figure out which card would be best for each person on my list. I balance all that on one hand to put my cell to my ear and call dear husband to get his opinion for one of them. He tells me which one to buy. I pick it up.

Then another one. That one was easy. Hmmmm . . . the next one stumps me so I pull out the cell again and dial. As it starts to ring I hear very loudly from behind me as the cashier bellows, "MAM." I look up at a lady down an aisle in front of me who kind of gives me a "she's talking to you" look back.

Puzzled, I turn around (while balancing all that crap in my two hands b/c i wasn't smart enough to bring a purse in). And then I hear it.

She says loudly, and I quote, with her voice thick with accusation, "What EXACTLY is it that you're doing?"

At first I was thinking . . . "huhhh??" Then I realized what she was saying. The thoughts going through my mind at that moment are not fit for public consumption so I'll keep them for myself until I have to repent tonight, but sufficed to say I was livid. Were I not so irate I would have said, "Actually, I'm the dumbest person on earth as evidenced by the color of my hair, so I thought I'd stand right here in front of you for at least 30 minutes, then steal some gift cards by waving my magical wand that makes things invisible, then take off running in my high heels, dress, and 12 pieces of paraphanalia in my hands. All that for a gift card that WON'T WORK unless you activate it. Yeah, I'm just that stupid."

Instead, amidst taking deep breaths so that my blood pressure wouldn't cause my heart to jump out of my chest, I politely turned around and hung each one of those gift cards back on the rack (despite my wanting to throw them on the ground), turned back around and said, "Absolutely nothing because I don't shop here anymore."

And made my best effort to slam the door on my way out (darn doors won't slam), at which time she has the nerve to yell . . . "Fine then!"

What the heck?????? Where in the world do you get off being mad at me!!!!!! I thought I might loose it there for a moment and give in to the hereditary hot collar that I have worked so hard to overcome. You see, I come from a long line of folks who can, while sounding very polite indeed, verbally stab you and turn the knife, all while smiling calmly.

To make matter worse, I call the husband again who feels it's his manly duty to protect and proceeds to call and ask for the manager. He gets the same lady who says,"Who's this?" --as if it matters or is any of her business. He simply says his name (no details of what he's calling about) and she proceeds to hang up on him. So he's all ready to call an acquaintance of ours who manages the district and raise caine.

Somewhere in the middle of all that, and likely while I write it down just now, I realize that it's just not worth it. That despite my momentary justified anger, at the end of the day it's really not that big of a deal. Yes, she was wrong for calling me out in front of everyone in the store, but you never know what someone's going through. Her son may be in Iraq, or she may be raising a house full of grandchildren she never thought she would, or she may have just found out she has a disease. You just never know.

Then I got to thinking what a small sacrifice to afford her a tiny dose of grace compared to Christ's sacrifice for us. So I'm letting it go, lest I be a hypocrite when I jump down my husband's throat tonight for something small just because I'm tired from a long day's work and an afternoon photo shoot (i know. that would never happen. but i'm just sayin'). I'm pretty sure I'll be needing my own daily dose of grace soon enough.

(that's not to say that I'll be re-visiting her anytime soon though!)

Comments

[Ayshia]

I would have handled that situation the same way you would have. At least you had sense enough to realize it probably wasn't really a big deal, where I would have already called, chewed someone out, and regretted it later. You certainly have the right outlook on it.

[Sassy Chick]

You are in fact a MUCH better woman than I. I am JUST THAT hot headed. It's worse the older I get. By 50 I'll be screaming at the elderly and small babies.