Can’t Think of a Clever Title

Original post date: March 5th, 2007

Seems the older I get I’m noticing I’m becoming more mellow about some things, yet less tolerant of others.

For example, grocery stores—always a source of agitation for me. Slow bag packers get on my last nerve. Also, inevitably, my cleansers end up mixed in with my produce, and my meat with my fruit, so I think they may be trying to poison me and my family. Their behavior is probably revenge for me asking for paper bags, the bane of all baggers. Vengeful little buggers. However, I have infinite patience while waiting in the grocery store checkout line. Where it would have once bothered me that no new checkouts were being opened, or that people were sneaking into the 15 item or less line with 54 things—I’m fine now. Go figure.

My radio is starting to annoy me, too. I’m what one might call an eclectic listener. I have stations programmed for pop rock, country, oldies, easy listening. I flip until something strikes my fancy. I’ve noticed a trend lately of my pop rock stations playing country. Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, The Wreckers, and Keith Urban mixed in with The Fray, The Killers, Kelly Clarkson, and Five for Fighting. What gives? Is pop so desperate for good music they’re borrowing from country? I’m not sure, but it bugs me. Completely irrational since I love country music, too, but there it is.

There’s nothing more annoying than calling a Big Business and getting endless directions for their voicemail system. Just the other day I was on the phone, lost in Press 1s, Press 2s when the voice asked me if I’d like to take a survey of their system! Before I’d even resolved what I’d called about. Grr.

Yet, I’ve become completely fine with traffic. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not happy about it. But I no longer get cranky if my drive time is slowed ten or fifteen minutes. If I’m stuck longer than an hour, it might be a different story, though.

I’m good with slow servers at restaurants and tellers at banks (except for drive-thru). I’m okay with fast food places getting my order wrong—as long as they fix it. I’m also okay with the doctor’s office asking for my insurance card and info every time I go in despite the fact that I seem to be there every week. And stores like Best Buy that try to sell you everything and their grandmother in the checkout lane? I’m fine with them too, though I think those cashiers must hear that spiel in their sleep.

Bad drivers still bug me to no end, but as long as there isn’t country on my pop station at the time, I’m okay with it.

One day I’m aiming for completely mellow, but I have a feeling the grocery store will always push me over the edge…

~heather