Last night I stopped at Walmart on my way home from work to pick up some items we desperately need for the week. As I was walking through the store, I was sucked into the Mardi Gras display since we are going to the parades on Saturday. Every year we go up to the Seawall in Galveston and hang out at our friend's RV. There are other kids around so Aiden is entertained and of course there's lots of food and drinks. Back to my trip to Walmart... I was checking out the random things you pretty much use once, then discard. I picked out a few items, mostly entertainment for the kids, and continued on my way.
At the checkout, I was standing in line and noticed the cashier. He was over 6 feet, heavy set, balding, but with long, stringy hair. My first instinct was, EEK! Serial killer! I quickly felt guilty because I do not know this man. He might be a really great guy for all I know. I loaded my groceries on the belt and stood in front of him while he rang everything up. When I got closer, I realized his hair was stringy because he was sweating profusely. Droplets were beading at his head, falling down the strands and landing on his shirt. I had a little ick factor about the fact that some drops made their way to my reusable grocery bags. He started to make some small talk about loading the bags and he seemed to be genuinely sweet. I felt horrible about my initial reaction towards him.
Then he starts ringing up my Mardi Gras gear: shirts for the kids, stick on mustaches, a headband, light-up glasses.
He said, "Oh ya. Mardi Gras."
I said, "Ya! It really snuck up on me! I totally forgot about it until my friends mentioned it a week ago."
"Ya, well, personally I think any city that celebrates Mardi Gras is similar to Sodom and Gomorrah."
Blink, blink. "Really? You think it's all bad, all the time?"
"Well, no. God said if there is even one good soul left in the city, then it is worth saving. But cities like New Orleans, it sounds like it's year round there, so..."
"Huh. Well, that does sound sad..." Give me my receipt, give me my receipt, give me my receipt...
He hands me my receipt, I give the woman behind me in line wide eyes and make a beeline for the door.
What the heck?? WHY? Was he so socially awkward that he didn't see how rude he was being? I was purchasing Mardi Gras items, which means I am probably going to celebrate accordingly. Otherwise I'm convinced he hates everyone and takes any chance he can to judge and bring down those he thinks are doing wrong. I'm not a religious person, but I know a few things, so please see here. I felt a little bad for the guy though. What was his upbringing that he became so inept at casual conversing?
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2 comments:
I feel so bad for people that are 'Debbie downers'. You just know that by saying those things they are propagating more bad things for themselves. Sad indeed.
Hahaha...This actually made me laugh!
One, because I would NOT have found this a strange conversation. The guy sounds totally interesting. I would have been asking way more questions. His upbringing? Where he grew up, what his parents did for a living, what makes him think the way he does?
I don't think he meant to be rude. I think he was seriously trying to have a conversation. Yes, it's sad that he's a little socially akward and didn't realize that is a conversation you have with people you already know well...but, I don't think he meant to insult you or be rude - well, unless he said it in a snooty way, and then - yeah, he probably was being rude.
Anyway, I totally would have laughed.
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