Simply amazing

Last week I went to Amazing Savings to pick up a few activities for kids. Thinking that I would only get a thing or two, I didn't get the basket or the cart. Pretty soon I realized how silly the notion of getting only one thing in Amazing Savings was, but the store was about to close, so I couldn't get the basket even if I wanted to. I made my way to the register right behind a woman with three or four items, which were scattered all over the counter. There was a kid wailing in the background, "Mommy, I want it, I want it, I want it."

As the cashier was straightening out the paper roll in the register, the woman in front of me turned slightly my way and started talking to me and the cashier. "You know, kids nowadays are not taught manners. (She was obviously referring to the wailing kid.) Their parents need to teach them not to push people, to be polite, think of others." I just stood there biting my tongue. The woman kept on looking at me and the cashier waiting for support, but she was getting luke-warm smiles. She reiterated, "You know, children should be taught manners."

At the same time, I was standing there clutching in my arms ten-odd items hoping not to drop any. All she needed to do was to move hers a bit to the left and free up some counter space for me. The woman was too busy to be polite because she was giving a lecture on manners.

I don't want to vilify this woman. I don't think most of us are blameless in the judgment department. I know that I am not. She eventually realized that her manners were lacking, and even in her judgment she was a lot more polite than most. This is just a friendly reminder that G-d has a sense of humor.