I love to buy presents. When I get an invitation to a birthday, wedding or baby shower, the first thing that I think about is the present that I am going to shop for. This love for present buying and giving makes it difficult to explain how I waited until today to begin my holiday shopping. Before today, I had never been any where near Toys R Us or the mall this close to Christmas. It breaks my heart how awful people can be in the name of Christmas shopping.
Where do I begin?
To the man speeding through the Costco parking lot to get a space just three spaces from the back – Was risking the safety of children and everyone else in the parking worth getting that space just three spaces away from the back? Is any parking space worth risking the safety of others?
To the woman reading the riot act to the cashier at Toys R Us – The cashier does not write the sales ads. Take your issue up with management, and do so with the same respect that you want to be treated with.
To the man at the kiosk in the mall – I know that you have a job to do, but it is NEVER okay for you to grab my hand or physically stop me from walking by. I am sure that your soap is great, but it is not on my Christmas list this year. I will pass you by with a friendly, “Merry Christmas.” Please appreciate my personal space.
Most importantly, to the thirty-something woman at Wal-Mar that was unbelievably rude to the elderly gentleman standing in line at the register in the garden center – He did not hear you when you said excuse me to get by him with your shopping cart. He was there to buy a little gourmet pecan pie that is only sold at Christmas time for his wife and himself. It is their little “Christmas is ” tradition. The hateful look that you gave him after you finally shouted, “Excuse me!” at him goes down as the worst last minute shopping debacle moment that I have witnessed. It makes me sad to see someone so disrespectful of their elders.
My disaster of a shopping experience ended with me tripping as I stepped off the curb at Toys R Us. I fell into the dirty street, bruised my knee and both palms, and I broke my phone when I fell. One…just one…person stopped to see if I was okay. This stranger showed sincere concern for my well being. She walked me to my car, while everyone else just looked on in amusement. I only need one person to be kind for me to believe that the rest of the world can be to. I didn’t get her name, and I couldn’t pick her out of a crowd, but tomorrow I will do something kind for someone in her honor.
I am excited about tomorrow.