Skip to main content

Ain't nobody got time for that!

Sunday afternoon at a grocery store in the suburbs. I haven't witnessed such unbridled egomania since I watched the news last Black Friday. Niceties are thrown out the window. Road rules are forgotten. (Stay to the right!) The volume is turned way up and your only defense is to keep moving, and keep moving fast. If you abide by the rules, you'll get in and get out, groceries in hand and if you're lucky with very few defensive wounds.

Today, I was in the midst of this mess. All was going well. Then you get in line behind cash-and-coupon-Clara. You know who I'm talking about. She's in her early 50's. She had a change purse. She had a coupon organizer. She had a question about every damn item scanned. She had all the time in the world. What she didn't seem to have was a damn clue.

I stood watching her. I didn't have much choice. I was about 4th in line and the people ahead of me were absolutely fuming. And just when we were about to make some headway -- something rang up for the wrong price. I had to laugh. We were all in this together now.

It got me to thinking. Are there people out there really this oblivious? They move about with a lightness that knows no schedules. People around them do not exist. It is only their needs that seem to matter and you're gonna wait. Get comfortable.

Patience has never been a virtue of mine. But I have learned to bite my tongue. Still, my anxiety never lets me forget for a second that I am part of a whole; one cog in this ever-moving wheel that keeps suburban society moving smoothly. And when I am forced to disrupt the flow, I feel horrible.

To be honest, though, I'm not sure who's right here. In a time when we're constantly told that self care is a necessity to mental health, am I right for putting others first? Or is she for thinking of herself first? After all, I'm still thinking about it. This blog is proof. She's probably at home with her 8 cats (Fancy Feast was on sale this week!), watching PBS and clipping next weeks coupons.

And I'm sure I'll see here again. Probably tomorrow morning, as I enter the weekly rat race. I'll be running late, as usual. She'll be the lady in the 1997 Buick Regal going well under the speed limit. Then in front of my again at Timmy's with her free voucher. I may even give her a "what the hell are you doing?" hand gesture. But she won't see it. My tan skin will be lost in her rose-coloured lenses.

Vanessa Sully

I need a prers-mertch!








Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I'm back!

A while ago, my laptop died. There was no warning, no clue that something was wrong. As suddenly as it had come into my life, it drifted away and with it, my blog, my therapy...and a little bit of my sanity. There it sat in a drawer mocking me. With every intention to get it fixed a funny thing happened - life. You know, that thing that occurs while you're busy making plans? And just like that it was forgotten ... until a few weeks ago. A friend said, "Let me take a look." And here we are. The best Christmas presents are those that are already paid for, aren't they?! So now I find myself a few years later, a little older, hopefully a little wiser, most definitely a little more tired thinking of trying this blogging thing again. It seems so appropriate that it should start at the beginning of the year. I know, I know... all aboard the bandwagon . I'm not into resolutions, really. But if I'm looking at this as a new beginning, I guess I can set some goals, rig...
Post a Comment
Read more

"Smile! It increases your face value!"

I'm usually in a pretty good mood. * I'm usually quick to smile; quick to laugh. I like to say "hi" to people on the street. I like to hug good friends. I like to kiss my husband. I like to keep it light and try not take it all so seriously. It's a conscious decision, albeit not always an easy one. Most days, though, I'm pretty good at NOT giving into the bullshit. Recently, in my Kickboxing class, (my new passion!!) I was paired with a 20-something girl for the partner drills. I greeted her with a smile. Nothing. I cracked a lame joke about how we should try to NOT punch each other in the face. *crickets* (Does she not realize I'm a delight?!) Then we started our exercises; me with a mid-level intensity and steady beat to the Flo Rida song booming over the sound system; her with an intense fervor like she was training for her next MMA fight. Now, I kept up. (Awwwww yeeeeahhhhh!) But I was (at first) more than a little annoyed. I wanted to say, "Y...
1 comment
Read more

Happy 6th Anniversary, Canada!

Gimme some sugar! Muah! Why you ask? Well, candy is the traditional gift for the 6th anniversary and as of September 1st, the Sully's have been in Canada six long, cold, life-changing years. It came and went without consequence which is really unlike me. I celebrate every milestone with some sort of small celebration. But this Summer was crazy busy and the end of Summer was even crazy busier as we prepared for the first (and long awaited) day of school for Isabel. It's like suddenly I blinked and Summer was over. (Even though it's been over 80 degrees this whole week. Weird) The same could be said for our time here. I blinked. And just like that I'm a Mother and Wife. And... dare I say this out loud? Happy. Weird. I keep thinking back to those two kids living in Atlanta contemplating a big move very north. Would I have made the same decision knowing then what I know now? It's an interesting thought. One I can't really dwell on because no matter how I...
Post a Comment
Read more