Sunday, November 02, 2008

I'm Not Cranky All the Time

I was pretty cranky Friday morning because I knew I was going to have to make a trip into town to do the monthly banking and go to the dreaded Wal Mart. It makes me cranky most any day that I have to get dressed so there were those two strikes against the day to start off.

I walked what felt like 500 miles up one aisle and down another while trying to find the things on my short list. I was very pleased with myself for actually remembering the list, but it didn't seem to save a whole lot of time since they keep MOVING everydamnedthing in that place.

Who would have imagined that the marshmallows would be over on the aisle with the juices, on a shelf at floor level, below the jello?

Not me.

I finally found all of the things for the kiddy party that I had forgotten the first time I went, and was wandering around between the THREE lanes that were open. I finally just pushed my cart in behind a lady who seemed to have been shopping for a whole month, and waited.

While waiting, retired football Coach and Mrs. Coach pushed their buggy in behind mine, so I at least had someone to pass the time with. We chatted about what they'd been doing, how the kids were, and about Mrs. Coach's experiences with back surgery. She'd had a bad experience with a quacky doc who'd cut twice without fixing anything, finally changed doctors and was on the mend from the 3 surgery (which finally fixed her up). After a few minutes of chatting, Coach decided he'd forgotten to get some hair gel, so off he went to find that item.

The lady in front of me had finally finished loading up the conveyor thingy and her stuff had moved enough for me to place my things behind the divider. When the checker started on my stuff, I noticed that Coach hadn't returned (you know that men have a harder time finding things than we do), so I unloaded Mrs. Coach's items so she wouldn't have to (she was still in a back brace). I had to laugh as I left, cause Coach was still somewhere looking for the hair gel. I bet Mrs. Coach was a little perturbed by then.

I made it to my truck, threw my stuff into the back seat, and as I was pushing the buggy into the slot thingy, I noticed a lady was almost in tears standing beside a big suburban next to where I'd parked. I asked her if she was ok; if there was anything I could do to help, and she told me she'd locked her keys in the car and the door pad wasn't taking her unlock code. I noticed the passenger window was down a couple of inches so I asked her if she had purchased anything with a long handle that I could put down inside the window to push the door lock thing.

That was a negative.

Then, a light bulb went off in my mostly empty head, and I went to my truck, reached in, and came out with Zach's tae kwon do practice sword.

A few people were giving me some strange looks but nobody ran or anything, so I slid it out of the scaboard and slid the blade down inside the window and pushed the lock button.

There. All done.

I went back to my truck, climbed in, and as I drove away I got to thinkin'.

I sure hope that suburban belonged to that lady, cause I had just helped her break into it.

With a sword.

I was watching out for blue lights and listening for sirens when I left the parking lot.


16 comments:

Maria said...

Searching for water! That's a nice title! Thank you Brenda!

Karen M said...

Oh, Brenda, your Wal-Mart trip was even worse than the one I had earlier today.

But I got my stuff! And I don't know where I'd be without Wal-mart. I think my paycheck is direct deposited to the place!!

Hey, email me about where you live in Arkansas and if the fall leaves are looking good. I'm planning on surprising my husband on Wednesday (day before his 50th birthday with a fall foliage trip to Arkansas. Don't have any real plans. So any suggestions would be great. We just have two full days with the one night to be gone and need to keep things as inexpensive as possible. He reads my blog but not my email.

Anonymous said...

That's a cute story!!
Your such a good person to have bothered to help a stranger.
Have a good week.
Diane

Louise said...

That is hilarious. They probably had cameras in the parking lot, and I would see you on the national news (if I watched national news).

I don't do WalMart. Prince Charming does that, and his complaint EVERY week is how they moved every damned thing all over the place. They're supposed to "updating" ours. It's been going on for MONTHS, and he can't find ANYTHING! In this house, I would be the one who took forever to find something since I am never in the place. Each trip inside shortens my lifespan more than a pack of cigarettes would!

Anonymous said...

I'd like to think that the car belonged to her, and you were a hero.

Cas
I can't find anything in our local Wal... either.

Anonymous said...

We're going to have to start calling you 'The Ninja Nanaw'! Ha! Ninjas do good deeds, too, don't they?

Donna said...

Hhahahahaha...I'll just Bet the parking lot cameras were having a Fit watching the madd woman, With a sword, unlocking the door on a Stolen vehicle!!!Hahahaa...
You done Good sweetie!!
Happy night!!hughugs

Donna said...

ith a sword!!!hahahaa

Please excuse this CRAZY comment!!! I got a new wireless keyboard and it just seems to cut out on me at the Worst of times!!! Night sweetie!!hughugs

Donna said...

News alert! Woman helps another break into vehicle with a sword! Details at 11 p.m.! hahahaha!!!!!!!

It was very sweet of you to help her and Mrs. Coach, BTW.

Phyllis said...

Sounds like a Don Quiote thing. You couldn't find a windmill so a Suburban would suffice. hahahaha
Good for you Miss Brenda!

Anonymous said...

Wow Brenda, you just turned a cranky day into a day of giving. You know if Wal-Mart is such a yucky experience for us then it is for alot of people and on this day for two others you were their angel. When we least expect it we have the opportunity to inspire others. I just got home from Wal-Mart. The lines were long since it was the first of the month but I made the decision to be patient. Kudos for you for doing a Random Act of Kindness...twice! Oh, and I do hope that was her car!!! Great post!

Loretta said...

That was really nice of you to help her. One of our wal mart stores just got 'updated' and I can't find anything in it. I wandered around in it for an hour the other day and never did find everything I wanted.

zztop357 said...

Brenda, the wally-world in my home town was designed by the employees.
The drug store is at the front, the garden and automotive are on the right, clothes are in the middle, all groceries are on the left. There are big hanging signs on each end of the rows telling whats on them.It is so much easier to shop there.I avoid the stores in Jonesboro like the plague.The Trumann store is so much easier to shop at,and the prices are lower.
When built it was an experiment, to see if the customers would like it.It has been a big hit. I wish you could be so lucky.
I'm happy that you helped that lady.It can be a mite irritating to have to call someone to unlock your car.(and expensive) I can't stand a "I told you so, and what were you thinking ", from hubby.
God bless, Donna

bichonpawz said...

OMG! I was thinkin the same thing.....what on earth would you do if the security people came out to arrest you for breaking into a car with a SWORD no less....hahahahaha! But seriously, it was very nice of you to take time out of your day to help somebody. Walmart is exasperating sometimes!! I feel like I have run the Boston Marathon when I'm in that store and I always wear my Crocs!

Brandie said...

I must say that I came across your blog from another person and your blog cracked me up. My husband feels the same way about going to the local Wal-Mart. Although he puts it as where did all the rude people come from or why is that person driving down the wrong way..and etc..and my dad is just like you..lol..helping people in crazy ways..I am going to add you to my blog cause I love your pictures and you made someone smile :)

Unknown said...

Okay, how did I miss all of these posts? This was such a funny story. Wish you had a picture of it. LOL