judge not...

Close to our new home, there’s a Walmart “Neighborhood” store. (I think that’s what they’re called.) It’s small. Food and Pharmacy. Lots of “Scan and Gos.” (Trust me—I don’t hate checking myself out. Mostly because I desperately crave doing my own “sacking.” I can keep all of my cold food items together. My pharmacy items. Paper products. Etc. Etc. Etc. I diligently and energetically group all of my purchases in a way that makes perfect sense to me. Normally, my proud organization gets all jumbled up as cashiers scan and sackers sack for me. Sigh.) 

Last Friday evening, after taking Little Leighton (aka LL aka Biscuit) home from our casa, I stopped at this Mini Walmart. I picked up a few things we needed and headed to check out. Because I had a large 24-can Diet Dew box, I wanted an actual person—besides me—to check me out. (I’m not quite ready to take that scanner-thingy off at the self-check stands to scan large/bulky items.)

I saw a checkout stand light on at the farthest stand and a Walmart man/employee/cashier at said stand. I headed that way. There was one man ahead of me and his checkout went fairly fast. I put my items on the conveyor belt and waited for my turn. As the cashier—who, by the way, was every bit of 72 years old (GO SENIORS!)—started scanning my purchases, a man somewhere between 45 and 52 years of age put a 12-pack of beer and two cartons of Cool Whip on the belt. I had to turn my face away so he wouldn’t see me giggling.

I immediately started thinking about the many, MANY times I plopped a very WEIRD assortment of items on a conveyor belt at Walmart. Or Target. Or many grocery stores. We all need assorted and sometimes quite odd things that, as a group, look FUNNY.

As I turned my head back and glanced back at the man’s three items, he saw me and said (with a HUGE smile on his friendly face):

Please don’t judge me! I’m making “crack” tonight. With cream cheese and chocolate. Do you know what I’m talking about? 

I replied: First, I’m not judging you because I don’t want you to judge me! Although I did giggle when you put those down. Second, is it the pie that has chocolate pudding and Cool Whip, too?

He said no. No pudding. Not a pie. 

At this point, I needed to pay and leave. I said: Have a great evening! He said he would!

As I headed to my vehicle, I kept smiling. Giggling. It turned out to be a memorable grocery store trip! And a reminder to me to not be afraid to talk to strangers. Especially a stranger respectfully laughing at—or with—you.

Wishing you a day that includes either Cool Whip or beer. Or both! Winky. Wink. 

Hugs...
ELC