An Open Letter to the Grocery Store Checker
First of all, you didn't embarass me. You didn't insult me. You didn't do anything wrong. So don't worry.
So why was I making such a point about NOT qualifying for the "Senior Citizen" discount you rang up? Why did I insist that you take it off the bill? Why, when it wasnt possible to remove it from the bill, did I wait for you and a manager to void the entire transaction and re-ring it? (To the other gentle readers, don't worry - it as only a 1 item sale. On the other hand, go ahead and worry, because I probably would have done the same thing if it had been a 200 item sale, but if you've read this blog at all, you already know me.)
Rest assured it was not about age. For some strange, unfathomable reason, anytime I get on my high horse about somethingh that remotely touches on age or birthdays, or any of that stuff, people just seem to leap to the conclusion that it's about - well - age...
Nope.
It's a lot simpler than that. You didn't insult me by assuming I was a "Senior Citizen." I'm in my early 50's but I *know* I look like I'm at least a decade older than that. Hell, store clerks, waiters and waitresses have been merrily trying to ringn me up as a "Senior" since I was in my early 40's. I get it. I look old. Any insult and irritation I may have felt about that went away a LONG time ago.
So why?
Because I'm a self-righteouos, moralistic prig who refuses to take what isn't mine. I'm the clown who finds a dime in the change slot and puts it on top of the pay phone in case the owner comes looking for it. (OK, maybe not the best example - you may be too young to know what a "pay phone" is.) I'm stubborn. It's that simple.
I love your store. I won't name it here, but let's just say it is (as far as I know) the largest privately held company in the US. You give great service and sell great products. In a few years, when I actually QUALIFY for the Senior Citizen dicsount, I'll take it happily. I may even ask you why you DIDN'T ring it up if you overlook it.
But until that day, I'll just continue to be a stiff necked pain in the aisle.
So why was I making such a point about NOT qualifying for the "Senior Citizen" discount you rang up? Why did I insist that you take it off the bill? Why, when it wasnt possible to remove it from the bill, did I wait for you and a manager to void the entire transaction and re-ring it? (To the other gentle readers, don't worry - it as only a 1 item sale. On the other hand, go ahead and worry, because I probably would have done the same thing if it had been a 200 item sale, but if you've read this blog at all, you already know me.)
Rest assured it was not about age. For some strange, unfathomable reason, anytime I get on my high horse about somethingh that remotely touches on age or birthdays, or any of that stuff, people just seem to leap to the conclusion that it's about - well - age...
Nope.
It's a lot simpler than that. You didn't insult me by assuming I was a "Senior Citizen." I'm in my early 50's but I *know* I look like I'm at least a decade older than that. Hell, store clerks, waiters and waitresses have been merrily trying to ringn me up as a "Senior" since I was in my early 40's. I get it. I look old. Any insult and irritation I may have felt about that went away a LONG time ago.
So why?
Because I'm a self-righteouos, moralistic prig who refuses to take what isn't mine. I'm the clown who finds a dime in the change slot and puts it on top of the pay phone in case the owner comes looking for it. (OK, maybe not the best example - you may be too young to know what a "pay phone" is.) I'm stubborn. It's that simple.
I love your store. I won't name it here, but let's just say it is (as far as I know) the largest privately held company in the US. You give great service and sell great products. In a few years, when I actually QUALIFY for the Senior Citizen dicsount, I'll take it happily. I may even ask you why you DIDN'T ring it up if you overlook it.
But until that day, I'll just continue to be a stiff necked pain in the aisle.
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