Empty

Late this afternoon I decided to take advantage of the glorious sunshine and go for a walk. There is a creek and stream nearby and as I approached it, I noticed a man on his knees engaged in what appeared to be rinsing returnable bottles and cans in the water. Some stores won't take them dirty or the bar code readers fail if obstructed.

He seemed unaware of the world around him as he worked. I watched intently as I got closer. He was about 5'11", slim build and fit.

Without thinking I reached into my pocket and took out what I had. I walked over to the guy, smiled and handed him the money. He was grateful and said "God bless you. I'm just trying to get something to eat, man." His eyes were clear but tired and, I would guess his age at late forties. I smiled again and continued on my way without looking back. I didn't want to embarrass either of us.

There is a lot right in this country yet, something is very wrong when people collect cans for their supper void of other options. Some might say "at least he wasn't asking for a handout." They would of course be missing the point.

Grocery Madness

When I state that I fear for this nation in the hands of the young, I mean it.

On the way home tonight, I stopped at a grocery store. I needed milk and bananas but, I noticed that there was a sale on pasta sauce; five large jars for only $5.00. A great buy so, I added the jars to my cart and headed to checkout.

Of course, it was my luck today to get new girl who already hates her job, rather than either of the two fun loving high school dudes who love reminding me that I am old by raising their voices a couple octaves to call me "Sir".

Yeah, this one was sour an stupid... I had to walk three blocks up that great hill to the house. I therefore asked that she place a paper bag inside the plastic one, to prevent an accident involving glass and tomato sauce on a neighbor's sidewalk.

Here's the hard part: For the life of this poor cashier girl, she could not understand what I mean by "place a paper bag inside the plastic one." She began by handing me the paper bag, to which I repeated my request. Then she tried simply leaning the bag to one side inside the plastic bag. No, no. "Yeah, open the bag and then put it in" I offered while gesturing wildly.  She now looked confused and angry. She placed the opened paper bag the opposite direction as the plastic, creating a cross if you were looking over the top of the mess. "It won't fit" she offered in frustration. I looked to the two goobers behind me in line. "Yeah, it is just you" their glares suggested. The store security dude winked to let me know he felt my pain. The cashier out of frustration handed be both bags. "Do it yourself, asshole" her eyes offered. So, I did.

I made my way to the house. It was now after seven and I had only crackers for lunch more than six hours earlier. After emptying the bag, I looked at the receipt only to discover she had over-changed me roughly four bucks. She had charged me the regular price and not the sale price for the jars of pasta sauce.

Out of friggin principle I returned to the store for my dang four bucks! I went to the same cashier, waited in line and she told me that she couldn't help me; I had to go to the service desk. There, I waited in line for twenty minutes. The service desk matron was pleasant although, I had to do the math for her.

It is now 8:36p.m., I am in bed and will not get out of here until tomorrow.

Stay in school kids.