Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Patience, please...

Took the kids to Sam's for lunch - after the farmer's market and a not-so-quick stop at Kohl's. I figured it would be fast and cheap.

There was a short line - maybe four people in front of us. Kids and I get in line. As soon as we do, some blowhard gets in line behind us. "Well this was your idea," he complained to his dining companion.

For the next two minutes, I can hear him huffing and puffing and heave sighs, oh the agony of waiting! He even made a comment when the woman in front of me wrote a check - "She's writing a check."

The gal behind the counter had to get a pizza to keep it from burning, and I turned to him and said, "Would you like to go ahead of us? You seem like you're in a big hurry." "No, thanks, I'm fine."

I turn back around and can hear him sigh loudly one more time, I turn back to him. He's leaning on a post with a look of pure annoyance. I ask, "Are you sure?" He got a little red faced and said, "No, really." His companion looks at me, and I can only imagine what she deals with from him. I smile.

What I wanted to say, "Get over it. Really. Put on your big boy underoos on and deal with it. Waiting is a part of life. If I can get my kids to hold still for two minutes, surely you can keep it together that long as well."

Would it be nice to always be first, to never have to wait? Sure, but that's just not how it works. Did I let it frustrate me that just as it was my turn to order, something else needed attention? No. When she said, can you wait a minute? I said - you bet. Why? Because it wasn't a problem. I didn't make it a problem. She apologized for the wait. You mean that extra minute? Not a problem, I told her.

I guess I remembered by big girl panties, and was able to deal with it. Today.

2 comments:

Tree said...

I feel horrible for his companion. He sounds like he was determined to be pissy, regardless of the real world.

Mitzi Green said...

what a tool. he's lucky he doesn't live in "the big city" where there's a line to wait in line most of the time.