Most Days, I'm Nice

So, this morning my friend called me and told me that Wally World had t-shirts with Bo's favorite cartoon character on it. I have been waiting for them to show up for a long time now. I had about an hour before I needed to be back for a babysitting gig. So I threw all the kids in the car and headed across town. I live exactly the same distance between the two Walmert's that this town has. I almost always go to one because, if you can believe it, it's considerably less ghetto. But, it was the ghetto one that had the t-shirts. So that's where we went.

Now, I'd like to be one of those conscientious boycotters that avoids Walmert for all it's---taking over the world and oppressing the man business and whatnot, but alas, our checkbook dictates where we shop. As well as the 3 kids raquet we've got going on. Where else can you buy Kung-fu Panda yogurt, Luvs, flip-flops, underwear and an anti-diarrheal in one fell swoop? I ask you!

Annnnnyway.

I left the house telling the kids every 40 seconds, "We have to be so fast, we have to hurry there and hurry back."

And so we were so fast. As fast as a slow-as-his-mom 5 year old, shoes-too-big 3-year-old and perfectly darling, contentedly plopped-in-the-cart 1 year old (!) can be.

I was cutting it close and beelined for the checkout after 5 unneccessary things and the t-shirt were placed in my cart.

At the checkout I turned my cart sideways so not to block the traffic going across the main aisle. I'm a considerate super mega-mart shopper. I just am.

In "parking" sideways, I was sort of hidden behind a display. Because I am petite and slight of frame. And I don't have 3 kids hanging off a cart, pushing it, bumping into things, and I'm not 2 heads taller than all displays. Everywhere. Bo and Avery had even thrown some of my stuff on the conveyer belt but I felt like it was a little too pushy to the person in front of us, so I told them to relax.

Doo-to-doo...we're just hanging out and suddenly my cart gets nosed back by another cart. She didn't just bump me or even go around and try to cut, she used the front of her cart to push my cart back. Into me. I automatically assume it's a total mistake, because in addition to being a considerate shopper, I make kind assumptions about perfect strangers.

I looked up because I had been thoroughly engaged in a conversation with Danyo about his slobber-wobber and what a cutie-pootie he is and other important things we like to discuss. Miss Cart-Pusher is looking RIGHT at me. I think I may have stared blankly (another thing I do well---I don't mean to brag so much...) and then she said, "Well? Are you in line!?"

I stuttered. No, I didn't even stutter. Stuttering implies more than one sound is made. I said, "Uhhhhhhhhh."

There was no possible reason I would be where I was, if I wasn't in line. Granted, I wasn't in the traditional position of all up in someone's cart grill---but I was all up on the conveyer belt's...conveyence.

Avee says, "Come ON Mom, we hap to hoe-ee! Baby Aidan is coming!"

I gathered my senses and said, "Yes, I'm in line." And I said it nicely. Even after being cart-ssaulted.

"Well, it doesn't look like you are in line." And tried to nose past me AGAIN. I stepped forward a few inches. There was no way I was going to let her get in front of me and have that box of SMILES fruit snacks and Ben 10 shirt I already spent 75cents in gas to come and get.

I had 6 items. She had a cart overflowing. I had 3 kids with me. She was alone. I am beautiful, she was homely.

She tried to push again. I stepped to the front of my cart and started unloading my stuff and she sniveled something at me. By this time, she had the checker's attention and the person who was in line in front of me. I didn't hear her, but I was really annoyed by then and I said, "Is it really so important that you get in front of me, I have 6 things, I have 3 kids with me, I'm in line ahead of you---do you really need to keep pushing this?"

I thought it was over because after I said that she just rolled her eyes and looked away.

Then I hear, "Some people should know when to stop having kids."

Oh. No. She. DIH'UNT.

I swallowed. I took a breath. I thought about counting to 10, I looked at the cashier and she looked more shocked than I felt. So I turned and said, "And some people should never start." The cashier shook her head, reached up and turned off her light and said, "I'm sorry, this lane is closed." Yo, she had my back.

I am always, always shocked when I encounter people like this. I am so shocked by the rudeness, but even more shocked that all of it is a result of something SO petty. Was it really that important to get ahead of me? She has to insult my character because I don't let her?

In better news, I callt my friend for a phone number for a dentist for the kids. I told her J has the next 3 days off and I'd like to try and get some appts done in the next 3 days. At which point she scoffed, "You think you're going to get in this week? I already have an appointment for October!"

Guess who has two appointments for tomorrow at 9 am?

Your mom goes to college!