Lately I’ve been noticing how even mundane situations can serve as a wakeup call.
Yesterday, after reading this Huff Post article about a woman’s frustration at standing in line at a Jo-Ann Fabric store, I quickly fired it off to my friend. Knowing my pal is a passionate fan of the store, I was interested in her take.
Her response arrived this morning; she construed it as an angry, misdirected venting session.
“I wish I could send her a Twitter message to tell her all she needs to do is go in the evening during the week. Very quiet, no waiting. ”
Not three hours later, I found myself standing in line at Costco. Silly me, I’d purchased a book I’d already read. Fortunately this revelation came upon me just a few pages in, so the book was still in pristine returnable condition.
Assuming the transaction would take but a moment, I stopped in en route to my morning dog walk. With Poppy reluctantly remaining in the car,
I breezed in through the exit door and headed for the returns counter.
“Hey, lady! Wait your turn in line!” shouted the employee on exit door duty.
Line? What line? This is Tuesday. I’m returning something.
Incredibly, she was right. There were 14 people in line ahead of me. My thoughts returned to the Jo-Ann article.
“Patient. You just have to be patient” advised the sixtyish, slighty balding chap standing immediately in front. He was leaning on a shopping cart that held three empty water jugs and a full pair of Ranch flavoured salad dressing bottles.
He was right. No point in getting upset. I found myself smiling at him and adapting, yet again, a slight British accent.
“Right you are sir. We shall stand here together and admire the contents of everyone’s shopping cart as they leave.”
There must have been a sample booth offering a taste of Japanese orange wedges. Every second cart had a box.
“Perhaps we could simply swap items” proffered the fellow two carts up. Unfortunately his returnable wasn’t too appealing; it was a dead battery.
Happily, I was soon no longer the last in line. A woman staggered in carrying a large silver and white fabric Christmas table bouquet. Gingerly placing it on a spare shopping cart conveniently placed off to the side, she turned to smile at me.
“White’s the wrong colour. I’m going for red instead.”
For the next fifteen minutes, we chatted about the possibility of her zipping “across the line” Thursday at midnight to shop for Black Friday bargains. I learned she had a Nexus card, which was recently renewed after five years (no need for an interview second time around) and that her sister was coming for a visit in a few days time.
“I find the water jugs here are great but it’s just too far a distance to go for a refill, so this is the last time I’m returning them” chimed water jug man during a brief lull.
When it became my turn to advance to the returns counter, flower woman and I parted like old friends. I zipped to the book section, selected another for me and a birthday gift for my mother-in-law and slipped into the shortest line to pay. While awaiting my turn there, I learned another important piece of info. The fellow behind enlightened me to the marvel that small containers of yogurt bought in bulk are much cheaper than the equivalent amount in larger containers. Who knew? I do. Now.
Those thirty minutes I waited in the returns line felt like three. I returned to the now sleeping Poppy in mighty fine spirits and we both enjoyed a splendid, worthy walk.
I understand the frustration of waiting in line when one’s in a rush. Perhaps it’s better to return when you have more time. However, in these days of less structured empty-nest-land, I’m adapting and it’s ok for me to stay and await my turn.
Yes, in my books, awaiting a turn in line is all about attitude. Had I not engaged in conversation with the chap in front, or had I ignored the woman behind me, I’d be stewing about Poppy back in the car or the need to shed my coat due to the heat or fussing about the time. Instead I engaged with strangers and came away enlightened.
Now, enough about me and my morning. How about you. What’s your attitude to lineups? If you’d care to share, I’d love to hear.
22 Responses
Oh this speaks to me today Kelly, I found it very difficult to stand in line. I am a fidgeter, cannot stand still, so much to do, so little time to do it. My iPhone has given something to fidget with and to be honest if I am catching up on some great blog reading I almost want to let others in front of me.
Hahaha! Love this. I can totally see the point of letting others in line ahead of you so you can catch up on blog reading. “No, please go ahead.”
Aw sweet pic of Poppy!
You know, most of the time I’m pretty chill in long lines. Even if I’m annoyed with the wait, I realize it’s better than being the person who works there, for another 6 + hours, dealing with potentially less than patient costumers! What’s tough is if I’m with my kids and if they’re being particularly awful/impatient. That’s tough!
Exactly – that is tough on both counts. I have spent many a lineup – especially at Costco – playing the “who can spot the person wearing a pair of purple socks…?” game with my kids. The McKenzie version of “I spy with my little eye …” Oh for another stab at distraction I’d also employ the ever popular “Who can stand still the longest?” I was always amazed at how that one never grew stale …
Since I’ve been on the other side of the counter, trying to help people as fast as possible, I always try to be as nice and pleasant as possible. I’m also an exceptionally patient person.
The post office in my neighborhood is notorious for having long lines, no matter what time of day you go. A few days ago, while I was standing in line, there was an older guy a few people ahead of me. He kept sighing and muttering under his breath about having to wait. I know it was wrong of me, but in my head I was thinking, “I can tell you’re retired, and I’m pretty sure you have all the time in the world, just relax!” Waiting is just a fact of life. Getting worked up about it isn’t going to make the wait any shorter!
Exactly. If anything, getting worked up about it makes the wait longer.
Attitude is everything, isn’t it? I’m a glass “not just half full but overflowing” kind of gal but every so often my cheeriness is challenged as your’s certainly could have been today in line at Costco. I love that you took the zen path, made some new friends and learned some new things!
It was really quite something Mo. I know that if I don’t have the time to wait, I need to leave. Not quite so zenlike when I’m frustrated, I must say. However today I had the time and it was a delight.
I love stories like these, where you take a seemingly mundane or possibly frustrating situation and show how it can actually have a lot of life and learning in it. All about perspective, once again!
Most of the time I’m a little relieved to be in a line because it gives me a chance to skim my emails or catch up on texts or something… I try not to put myself in these situations if I’m in a hurry though– that’s a recipe for disaster and we should know better!
Yes – exactly. “I’m not at my best when I’m in a rush …” is putting it mildly. My children would more than agree with that sentiment about their darling mom.
Kelly, once again you have made me realize why I enjoy you so much ! You take an ordinary, mundane experience and turn it into an adventure while reaching out to others. You have a gift !
Thanks Jane. I was a bit hesitant about writing about it I must say. “How interesting. Let’s read about how Kelly spent time in Costco…” Yawn. I was blessed with great fellow waiters though. You should check out those Christmas table centers – they were pretty neat.
You are awesome…I do not handle these kinds of situations and find myself feeling totally bitter and hostile when I have to wait. But no more. You have inspired me to give patience a try! :)-Ashley
I’m not the model waiter all the time, I must confess. If there’s a lineup and I don’t have much time it’s best if I … just … walk … away. Knowing that and acting on it is half the battle for me.
Good stuff. It’s all about relationship and connection. Bravo to your plethora of posts! You are knocking it out of the park! WGA
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment Wend! Relationship and Connection and … Time. I might not have been so patient if I had less time!
We don’t have many long lines like that in my rural area, but if I’m ever in line in a suburban Costco, I want to be in line next to you, Kelly. (We could sneak Poppy in beneath our coats!)
Yes – yes – yes! Let’s do it. She’s very good at making herself quiet and still.”Kelly won’t notice me if I don’t move.”
A brilliant article and I enjoyed reading it!! Thing is sometime we must wait to achieve a good result, hassle always brings unsatisfied output. Lessons I learned from here really encouraging me give waiting a try and sometime it’s worth waiting rather than feeling hostile or something like that!!
Hi Eleanor. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I’m not always as patient – I have to learn to walk away from the line if time is short!
Funny how I came upon your post today….Yesterday, missing the open hours of our small town post office, I ran to another neighboring town where I knew the post office had longer hours. Needing to send a package to a client, realizing this office would be closing in just a few short minutes I thought I would run in, get it sent and off I’d go on my merry way.. Well, this scenario was the farthest from the truth. In fact, there was a line almost out the door to which people were sending Christmas packages. I promptly turned around heading back to my vehicle, saying silently to myself “oh hell no” . I hopped back into my vehicle aiming to get groceries instead. Laughing, I, unlike you, chose not to be enlightened by the individuals standing in line, and opted for peace and quiet, fast efficiency of my small town post office today. 🙂
Kelli – you make me laugh. So smart and clever of you to hop right back in and opt for groceries instead. I think I would have done the same. Those hot, cranky, festive lineups are a true sentence. If you’ve got an option, get out and runnnnnn! Lucky for you that you have a quieter and faster option in your small town post office. I have to brave ours later today or tomorrow. You’ve got me thinking I should go early tomorrow morning. I’ll do that. Thanks Kelli.