Don’t Steal My Sunshine

I’m the master of thinking about what I should have said ten minutes after a situation is over. Today was no exception.

After working a restaurant opening event, I ran into the Feed Store to get that specialty food my cats must have to keep them from yakking all over my carpets. There was just one cashier at the counter, so I stood holding a ten-pound bag of cat food and smelling the rank odors of Feed Store that I haven’t smelled since I was a little girl growing up in rural southwestern Michigan. Hoping the odor wasn’t permeating my clothes.

The cashier finished with the customer and stalked away, snapping at one of the other cashiers that had come to the counter. Then the girl came back and without looking at me, slammed an order form on the counter and yelled out, “Can I help whoever’s next?” Then she proceeded to complete my order in the most surly way possible without actually speaking to me.

What I did was to meekly step forward and finish the transaction as quickly as possible so I wasn’t making her day any worse. Because I was obviously messing up her day by coming into her feed store, which I don’t understand, since it was a beautiful sunshiny day and we should all just be happy.

Ten minutes later, I realized what I should have done.

Option 1: Rewind to, “Can I help whoever’s next?” I step aside and say to the next customer, “You go ahead. I’ll take the happy cashier.” Taking my chances that someone else is going to be in a better mood while smelling old animal and pet food odors all day. After all, why should I be treated in a crappy way because she’s having a bad day?

Option 2: This is the one in which my better nature takes over. I walk to the counter and say, “Having a tough day, huh? I hope it gets better.” Give her a little of my sunshine. Yes. I’d like to think that if I’d come up with it on time, I would have picked option 2.

Instead I’m still thinking about this little encounter rather than enjoying another sunny fall day. I’m writing a post rant rather than a restaurant review of the best gelato place I’ve ever visited outside of Italy, or writing that article query on harvesting garden herbs.

Maybe I’ll just go harvest some of my garden herbs instead of writing about it, and take back some of my sunshine.

Published by angelawd on September 28th, 2007 tagged Daily Christianity, Time Plus Tragedy Equals...

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