Would It Kill You To Say Sorry.....

.....or oops.....be just a minute.....kiss my ass, anything?

One of my pet peeves is clueless people in grocery check-out lines. Over the last year I have been working really hard trying to ignore them. In the grand scheme of things, what's another few minutes? Sunday morning I got behind Miss Me Me Me.....and her lack of acknowledgement or awareness got to me.

Her purchase was just under twenty dollars. She asked the prices on a few items she didn't buy. The clerk keyed them in and told her. She fumbled in her purse for her smart phone, got it out, and checked prices on items she did buy. She couldn't decide if she did, or didn't, want something. Finally she took out a hundred that the clerk couldn't cash. She went to another register for change.

I was right behind her, next in line. Wanda was behind me, the shopping cart between us. The person behind Wanda picked up her goods and went to another check stand. Meanwhile I was biting my tongue to keep from saying what I thought.

This was an adult woman. I would guess mid forties? I don't know how long she took. It felt like the last five minutes of a basketball game. 

When Wanda and I have been the hold-ups, one of us will say something like, "Aren't you glad you got in line behind us." Even if it's not our making we say something. Would it have killed this adult woman to at least acknowledge us? That's all the situation called for, really. A simple sorry, or oops, or be just a minute. I don't think I'm being unreasonable saying a little consideration goes a long way.

Saturday night we made some popcorn, turned off the lights, and watched The "Exorcist". I saw it in 1973 when it was originally released. It would be the first time for Wanda. I well remember all the hype and the hoop-la surrounding the film. People were fainting, getting sick, leaving the theater too scared to stay. I read the book the day before the movie release and saw it at a midnight showing. 

Saturday night I was ready for it.

The language coming out of the little girl in 1973 was shocking. In 2012, it was not. The special effects that were so scary in 1973 were almost laughable today. The 'pea soup' vomit was, pea soup. The 360 degree head spin reminded me of a puppet. The movie that was so shocking and scary forty years ago is mild by today's standards. 

Now if I want to get scared or sick watching a movie all I need is a few minutes of anything with Adam Sandler in it. Kevin James is a close second.