13 April 2006

Miss Manners

Sometimes, it's just a crappy day. You stand in the prominently marked line at JoAnn. "Line starts here!" it says, in large, friendly letters. Sometimes, other people don't always know where to queue, and even though it's not clear whether they're lining up to get fabric cut or just ask a question, they get all frustrated when the cutting table clerk calls you first. So you let the frustrated lady go first, because (a) you were raised in the Midwest, and you can take the girl out of the Midwest, but not so much with taking the Midwest out of the girl, and (b) she has a tiny baby with her, and you're a Mom too and you remember how hard it is to shop within the confines of that delicate sleeping-baby-window. Now even though you were kind to Ms. NewMom, she ignores you and treats you like you cut in line. Despite this [refer to item (a) above], you also let queueing-impaired woman #2 go ahead of you, because she had been lined up behind Ms. NewMom when you stepped in line. And then, #2 doesn't bother to thank you either and all this rudeness makes you want to cry and give up and be a complete bitch 'cause that's, apparently, what is acceptable these days.

And then the cutting table clerk gives you 40% off even though you forgot and left your mailer coupon on the kitchen table, and Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me" is playing on the radio on the way home, even though it's raining, and you found really inexpensive washable chunky yarn in the perfect color to make shrugs to match the girls' sleeveless Easter dresses. And things just don't seem quite that bad any more.

1 comment:

kat said...

& now its sunny so that should help! I'm from the midwest too & often wonder what it is that people here don't understand about waiting their turn...they drive like that too!