Some People! (Take Two)

So there I am, hanging out at HEB after picking up Jack’s prescription formula. We had a little scare and didn’t realize he was totally out of formula until we opened the can and saw he only had enough for half a bottle and then went to the “formula” cabinet and realized it was empty. Now, for a kid that cannot have anything to eat except this formula, this is a scary thing to realize. So I was totally relieved when I called the HEB pharmacy and for the first time on earth, they just happened to have some in stock (normally, we have to call it in 2 days before we need to pick it up). Anyway, that was a completely unnecessary and unrelated intro…nevertheless, I continue on. Because I’m a trooper like that…

…so there I was with a cart full of paid for formula and about 12 items for dinner that night. All the lines were SUPER long. I’m talking “it’s Saturday night and I just did all my grocery shopping for the month.” long. Three carts deep. You get the picture. And there I was with TWELVE items and an itch to get home to my hungry baby. Then I saw it: the express line. Nobody was in it and the only thing stopping me was that pesky little sign, “Ten Items Or Less.” Okay, so I had 12. What’s two more items? That’s basically ten. Round down. I’d NEVER get in the line if I had 15. But it’s 12! That’s basically ten! Okay, so it was 13, but still! I could either wait 15 minutes for my 1 minute checkout or cheat a bit and sneak in the TOTALLY EMPTY express line. I did it. As I finished unloading my cart, a woman came behind me and huffed, “You DO realize this is the express line, right?” Yes, Grocery Police. I DO realize this is the express line. I also realize that the purpose of the express line is to prevent people from having to wait for cartloads of groceries to check out ahead of them when they will take 30 seconds to checkout themselves. Hence why I’m in this line. Instead, I sheepishly looked up and said, “Oh! No, I didn’t realize that.” She huffed again, this time like I was just the DUMBEST woman in the world. “Well, can I go ahead of you since I really DO have less than 10 items?” At this point, I should have said lots of things: 1) “I am actually planning to do 2 transactions, so it WILL be less than 10 items. Feel free to get in line behind me.” 2) “I got a hungry baby at home and this is his prescription formula. I really didn’t want to wait 30 more minutes before I’m home to give it to him.” 3) “It’s ‘fewer’ than 10 items. Nice grammar, lady.” Instead, I took the high road and said, “Of course, go on ahead.” She huffed her huffy little self ahead of me without so much as a thank you. For the next 2 hours, I just kept asking myself, “Did that really happen?” Did a woman seriously reprimand me in the grocery line for having three too many items? Just hours after I got reprimanded by a stranger for letting my child get a make-believe sunburn? Yes, I realize I let these things get to me just a wee bit more than a normal person would…but still! I am always shocked when people forget that, in the words of George Costanza, “We’re living…in a society We’re supposed to act in a civilized way. Does she care? No. Does anyone ever display the slightest sensitivity over the problems of a fellow individual? No. No. A resounding no!”

Okay, okay. I’ll stop with my little hissy fit now. But I tell you, some people!