The flawless autumn weather continued, but it could have been an irritating day today – the elements were all there:
At the grocery store I waited till the deli line diminished and only two people remained, having already been waited on. Then one was left and it was my turn. I held up my number ticket only to have a woman materialize like a wraith from the floorboards and wave a lower number than mine. I stood aside, doing that crinkly eye thing that makes it look like I’m smiling behind my mask (I wasn’t). The second person finished and the deli person came to get my order. Again I was sidelined, by a man this time, with yes, a lower number. I eventually got my enormous order – ¼ lb of cole slaw.
Or I could have been put off my game by the checker who rang all of my groceries up – a teenager serenely unburdened by any hint of a Puritan work ethic. I bagged my own groceries while he lethargically waved items in front of the scanner. He stopped and looked expectantly at me until I gestured at all the items still waiting on the belt: “That’s also part of my order,” and he stretched a languid arm over to continue. He almost redeemed himself by not asking for ID on my bottle of wine, but then I realized he’d only rung it up and waited till the end to ask for it. Getting carded at my age is the one perk of going to this store.
And the way my day began could have started everything on the wrong foot, but instead it was mildly empowering.
Yep, my senior exercise class at the Y. Again we had a switch in instructors, and again there was the woman who has us all jogging and bouncing on our knee and hip replacements. Before class began, I gathered up my things, said bye bye to my peeps, and quietly walked out.
I am a woman of a certain age. Hear me roar (softly).
I hear your roar. And echo it. Sometimes noisily...
ReplyDeleteWhat a challenging day you had. But you started it out just right! Good for you. That word drawing of the clerk had me in stitches. :-)
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many left behind you!
ReplyDeleteI get annoyed at checkout persons who move as if in a dream and wonder if they would move faster if they were paid per customer instead of per hour.
ReplyDeleteI hope a few others left that class too. Has anyone complained about the tutor expecting older persons to jump and bounce?
Maybe I’ll find out at Monday’s class - where we’ll hopefully have our “goog” instructor.
DeleteGranddaughter has a job at the grocery store. She says that everyone is either a kid or a senior. Of course, her definition of senior might not be accurate. I have been running into mostly kids at the checkout, but they all seem conscientious.
ReplyDeleteGiven how hard it is for employers to fill some positions in today's world, it's best to just sigh and bear it.
DeleteRoaring softly maybe...but still roaring. Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you could give some feedback to the Y about that instructor? It might do her some good to know she's asking people to do things that aren't good for their joints!
ReplyDeleteWhere were those people with the lower numbers hiding?!?!
Since I was on a rampage of self-assertion, I did stop at the desk and left a gentle (I swear!) comment about the instructor.
DeleteAnd the people at the deli were likely doing what I would have done when there's a crowd and wander over to the bakery or somewhere while they were waiting.
Women of a certain age do have to roar both loudly and softly. I am sorry about your shopping, but at least you can buy wine and groceries in the same store!
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