Have you noticed in the madness that is the stores these days that folks are either with you or they're not? What I mean is, people are either total a-holes about this whole shopping thing or they are cool and are chuckling with you amidst the insanity. While I have been run over by carts and entire generations of Hispanic families, I have also experienced the fun of a faux angry mob standing at the line in a store demanding more cashiers. I'm telling you, there are no funnier comments than those in a line that is too slow for too long--especially if you are the one starting the silliness. It's getting them started on the silly route rather than the angry one that makes it bearable.
Recently, Joe and I went to the local fabric store to pick up some things. Joe wanted to get in and out of that place quickly and he was rushing me through the store. Notorious for ridiculously long lines, Joe hates going into the JoAnn's for anything, so he was setting the pace and it was fast, I tell you.
Me, knowing that he was getting crabby, I started squeaking my shoes. You know that sound your wet shoes make on the waxed floor? Well, I was intentionally sqeaking them down one aisle super loud just to make him laugh. But, he didn't laugh. Nope. He was crabby and started telling me to stop squeaking. Bummer.
So, me being me, I didn't stop squeaking--I just made it louder. And then I turned the corner and walked out of his sight. And as the squeaking continued, Joe just said really loudly "QUIT SQUEAKING YOUR SHOES!".
And then I met my partner in crime--an older lady who continued squeaking her shoes when I had quit. We looked at each other and cracked up, but Joe had no idea it wasn't me making the racket. She smiled at me and squeaked even louder than before.
He finally got mad enough to come around the corner to snap at me some more, and that's when he saw who was squeaking up the JoAnn's. It was hilarious. Girlfriend was scuffing her shoes up and down the aisle just to make Joe and me crack up--and that she did. It made my day. And even Joe had to laugh at that one.
So, I guess my point is, that while we are all running a cabillion errands and rushing from this line to that one, we have choices here--we can be miserable or we can be smiling. And we don't have to be smiling that fake I-love-the-holidays smile, it can simply be the hey-this-is-nuts-let's-make-the-best-of-it smile.
In the days before Christmas, I wish you all squeaky days.
24 comments:
So nice to have a partner in crime who is as crazy as you, Lin! Poor Joe!
That's your village? Where's the Pope?
That sounds totally like something I would do. That or quietly mention how it's good to see Liza Minelli or Thurston Howell having breakfast at Little Joe's. (Always on the look-out for those quasi-celebrity look a likes.) And always mentioning it just a tad to loud to insure my family squirms. Good times!
Bahaha! One time, me and some friends were getting fabric to make costumes for a party. One of my friends was just being a giant bummer, so I got all this yellow fabric and started prancing down the aisles, holing it behind me like a cape. I don't know how much the employees appreciated it, but we all were in tears :P
I would have joined in had I been there!
I have managed to stay away from shopping AND squeaking. But I commend you for doing both - successfully.
In regard to the picture. In your little diorama there, are those deer all standing on a road beside a train track? I someone fixin' for a little venison for Christmas dinner?
You find the greatest people.
heh
And that's why I shop at amazon.com.
An excellent message!
George & I are sick as dogs - commenting is difficult but whoa - quick "Thank you" here - something more gracious when I can see and sit straight {{Huggiez}}
OH, those deer are gonna be in a world of trouble when the train derails on that bad track connection.
More carnage on the Lin express route?
And I got a packing order for my verification. It is "shipliz" Who is Liz? Is she being sent to Siberia or to visit grandma?
Hot Rocks--Can you believe I find these people?? Or do they find me? Either way, they are like hidden treasures. :)
Lola--No village yet--we were waiting for Colin to come home from college to help put it up. He likes that job. I love naming folks in stores too. My favorite is when I find a Joe look-alike and I say "Hey, there goes Joe K.!" I'm so easily entertained.
Ben--Oh, I'm sure they LOVED you! And I'll bet you stuffed that unwrapped fabric in the craft aisle too. :) Good for you!
Betty--Thank you, Betty. It's good to know I gotcha with me. ;)
LJ--Oh, no! They are very careful, those reindeer. It's the ornaments that somehow end up on the track until somebody pulls a Dudley Doright and saves them.
Pricilla--I love when you can have fun with strangers and they go along with you. Makes the drudgery less.....uh...drudegy??!
Chuck--Aw, Chuck, you'd be right there with me! Well, I hope so anyway. You aren't the pointing and eye-rolling type, are you?
Rumblepurr--You gotta have fun, right?! I hope Santa brings you a lot of new kitty toys!
Grace--Oh no! I hope you are going to be okay! Hope you like it. :) Get well soon!
Sharky--What are you and LJ thinking???! Criminy, there is no death under the tree! Those deer are very, very careful. It's the ornaments you gotta worry about! I'm just glad the words didn't say "ship LIN"! Whew!
Here's to laughing through the holidays.
For another laugh, goto Crochety Old Man Yells at Cars (http://crotchety-old-man-yells-at-cars.blogspot.com/). I don't know how he can manage to be so funny, but he is.
Oh that is just priceless. It sounds like something I would do too. My husband hates shopping of any kind and I tend to like to irritate him when I can get him in the stores.
You have a talent of bringing on spontaneous fun and laughter.
Great story! You guys were almost a flash mob.
Life is certainly more fun when it's a little squeaky rather than too serious!
Marilynne--I LOVE Joe! He is amazing. Can't believe he has survived all that he has been through!
Ann--I don't like shopping to begin with, but add in crowded, hot stores with endless lines. Arrggghhh! The only thing to do is laugh. Or try to anyway.
Highway--I would LOVE to be in a flash mob--it's my dream. I have soooo got a yard to photograph for your blog. OMG. Neighbors have created log henge at the end of the block. NOT kidding. Ugh.
Beaded Tail--Well, that's my thinking too! And besides, making that sound with your shoes is so much more fun on someone else's floor! :)
Did it take away the grouchies? I hate the sound of squeaking shoes although I have to admit, I would've cracked up too, seeing the little old lady joining in.
So glad you are one of those who's chosen to smile!
Brightens my day.
Once I gave hubby heck for 'letting one rip' in the grocery store. When we got around the next isle, he assured me it hadn't been him, it was the old lady ahead of us...
Sometimes you have to find your fun where ever you can... :)
xo Catherine
You made me laugh with this one! Nice share. :)
Have a squeaky holidays! LOL
You know, It must have said "SHIP LIN"- that Z just got turned sideways. Let's see... I can ship you here where you can smack me for being a Grinch. Or I can ship you to ... timbuktu... or bali hai... or the stockyards... or the south side... o wait, your train probably doesn't run that far.
Can you believe it, my word right now is "rests." The prosecution does it!
That Deers are going to be hit by careless driver!
That's absolutely great Lin! I love your spirit so much!!! Glad you got your crabby hubby to see the light- although, help from strangers is always nice:)
OMG, too funny! You're like me... it's like when you're going to the airport and you hear the people grumbling in line. It's the airport, people, of course you're going to wait and almost miss your plan. Get over it. Pull out a book, sit on your luggage and annoy the person behind you by ignoring them and making the line move even slower. LOL... Oh and it's like going to the VA hospital. I'll never understand why they get upset. Everyone knows that if you're in the military (whatever status) the motto is "hurry up and wait!"
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