10:00 PM - A Life Lesson Learned in the Stop & Shop
ããLook fashionable
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lacoste shoes,It's noon on a Wednesday; I've got plenty to do,
but I need to pick up a few things in the grocery store first. I
have determined that it will take 30 minutes to complete the
errand. I pride myself on efficiency, and will do everything in my
power to meet my goal. You see, I live with this absurd notion that
it is possible for me to own my time.I get out of my car and glide
through the Quit & Shop's sliding doors. I tuck my sunglasses
into my jacket pocket, and scoop up a shopping basket without
breaking stride. While my eyes adjust to the fluorescent lighting,
I notice a frustrated man struggling to separate two shopping carts
that have been wedged together. Good luck, pal.I stop by the deli
first, the only potential speed bump in my meticulously
choreographed routine. There are a few people ahead of me, but with
two employees slicing away behind the counter, this shouldn't take
long. I draw a number, wait my turn, approve the thickness of the
initial slice of turkey, and decline the invitation to sample it.
I'm moving away from the counter as the clerk hands over my
half-pound package; I reach back and collect it as if it were a
relay-race baton and scurry off in the opposite direction. I'm
making good time: no need to check my watchmy internal clock is
unfailingly accurate.I'm coasting along on cruise control, heading
for the pet aisle, when I notice an elderly couple looking at
laundry detergent at the end of the aisle, their cart obstructing
access. They shuffle coupons while looking back and forth between
their shopping list and the merchandise. I quit a few feet behind
them and begin shifting foot to foot. They're comparing the merits
of Tide versus Wisk while computing some complex mathematical
formula involving sale prices, triple-value coupons and fluid
ounces. They decide against the detergent. I watch them as they
walk off, completely oblivious to me. Unbelievable.After picking up
a carton of litter-box liners, I head to the dairy section and toss
a couple of containers of yogurt into my basket without slowing
down. I realize I'm still on schedule when, up ahead, I see the
elderly couple stalled out in front of the dairy chest. Here we go
again. The man has most of his upper torso in the cooler; he's
passing half-gallon containers of milk to the woman. She squints,
shakes her head, and hands them back to him. They're checking
expiration dates. I can see the exact brand of milk I want, but I
can't get to it. Finally, the man hands the woman an acceptable
selection. She makes a mark on her list, and they slip away without
acknowledging me. Clueless.I pick up a six-pack of Powerade on my
way to the checkout area. I search the lighted signs for an express
lane and don't see one. A regular lane is open to my right. As I
prepare to unload my basket, I find that the lane is not
unoccupied. The elderly couple had been camouflaged by the candy
and magazine racks. I'd probably laugh if this were happening to
someone else. The woman is rechecking each item against her list as
the man places them on the conveyer belt. I lean back and inspect
the other checkout lines to see if there is a better option. The
woman looks at me, then at my basket, and whispers something to the
man. He turns around and, in a gentle, friendly voice, says, Hey,
why don't you go ahead of us? You've only got a few things. His
carefree manner catches me off guard. He sounds as if he's got all
the time in the world, and he's offering me a little piece of it. I
feel the sort of shame that comes when someone does something nice
for you after you've said something nasty behind his back.That's
OK, I say, trying to match his casual tone. I'm in no hurry.You
sure? he asks.Yes. Thank you.I look down at my shoes; I feel
self-conscious and petty. The man loads the last of their items on
the belt and places a divider behind their order. I thank him. He
nods and smiles. The woman is watching the checkout girl to make
sure no mistakes are made. I have an urge to go forward and bag
their groceries for them. Their time is precious, toomore precious
than mine.I pull into my driveway and check the clock on my dash:
12:35. I missed my goal by five minutes. I know that the five
minutes were well spent observing the kind elderly couple in front
of me after they had offered me their place in line. Five minutes:
a small price to pay for discovering that only those who are giving
of their time have ever owned it in the first place.Blout Lives In
Stoneham, Mass.I found
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