Posted: 1/11/2008 at 04:30 PM
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Yesterday once again solidified my belief that grocery stores are like those big giant magnets from the Looney Toons cartoons. Here goes nothing: Yesterday, my boy and I made our regular biweekly run to the local grocery store (at midday no less. Cause we roll like that. We're both freelance writers). And twice mind you, TWICE, I was accosted (at least in my mind I guess) by two senseless men who took it upon themselves to thoroughly ruin my most awesome grocery shopping experience.
The first accostment happened in the frozen seafood section. I was shuffling through a bunch of different bags of frozen shrimp in a giant bin, searching for the perfect size shrimp to use for my parmesan-crusted shrimp recipe (which I did find, btw, in the 20-30 count "Tiger Shrimp" package), when all of a sudden a guy resembling Cheech from the "Cheech and Chong" movies asked if he could help me. I smiled and politely answered no (once again, do I really look that pathetic?!).
But no, he just stood there. I guess my polite reply wasn't enough to shoo him away. I really didn't need his help. I was doing fine on my own! He asked again, more urgingly, "You knooooow, I REALLY don't mind helping." I snapped my head up from the bin, looked at him dead center in his eyes as if Satan himself had entered my body, and said as polite-forcefully as socially acceptable without being called a bitch (This is a fine line to follow btw, folks). "Listen guy, I really don't need your help (!). So please leave me alone, ok??" He looked at me like a 2x4 had just been smacked into his face, and walked away.
Round II: I was in the baking aisle searching for some sesame oil to make my Kung Pao Chicken (are you hungry yet?). But here in front of my eyes was a literal train of overweight seniors, coming my way on the Rent-a-Carts available by our beloved, over-eating encouraging grocery store. The guy in the front looked about 60ish. Definitely not old enough to be dismissed for the comment that was about to fly out of his mouth. "Oh. My. God," he said. "When I look at you, I feel SO sorry for you!" That was it. I had had it. I answered quickly and severely, "Not as sorry as I must feel when I look at you. Move along, old man. I don't need your pity!!"
I think I might start ordering my groceries through Simon Delivers.
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When I read this, I feel SO sorry for you! Sorry, couldn't resist...
attila,
your entire argument is based on the assumption that "cheech" wanted shrimp. he didnt. after he left my side he went to the pork aisle, and then left. i think he wanted to chat me up to be honest, the way he was looking at my chest, but my bf was 2 aisles over :)
i guess in my post, what i was trying to convey, was my frustration in someone not accepting my answer of, "No, I got it, but thanks though," and then going along their merry way. that's what went down and i WAS sweet and positive in my first refusal of help.
my anger lies in that he thought he knew what i need better than myself, and that attila, is what i found condescending and therefore ruined my shopping experience.
i didnt go to months of OT therapy to learn how to grocery shop on my own to accept help whenever it was offered. but i politely told him no, i got it, but he still stood there staring at me. you see, i'm proud of what i learned and can do on my own. it may take me longer, and it may look like im struggling, but im not. i told him so, but he still wouldnt let it be.
i think i have every right in the world to be upset by that attila. if you dont agree, well, not my loss.
tiff
oh and forget to mention attila. the shrimp bin was right next to the main thoroughfare of the store, so he just happened to be walking by when he saw me. i think before you rip me a new one it'd be wise to ask that kind of stuff before going into a long tirade about something you dont know a thing about.
just my two cents. and yes, im preaching to the choir :) if you dont like what i have to say and dont agree, tis a shame. live my life for a week then get back to me...
Tiffiny, as I was reading my first thought was to tell you to use Simon Delivers! And, then I get to the end.
I can identify with the fine line between assertiveness and bitchdom. I had a flat tire this summer at a Twins game and it was amazing how many stupid, insensitve people came up to me to tell me I had a flat tire. As if, bumping along, ka-thump, ka-thump, ka-thump, I couldn't figure that out for myself. After about the 20th person had made the comment, a woman who was with three young kids, crossed over the entire width of the concourse to ask me if I knew I had a flat tire. I just looked at her, and in my best bitchy, sarcastic tone replied, "Yes, I'm completely aware I have a flat. Thank you very much!"
She literally ran back across the concourse, grabbed her kids and got away as fast as possible.
Last night, I had an IHOP waitress that told me that she used to be scared of dwarfs. I told her I was scared of Republicans (she had, a few minutes earlier, said that she was terrified of Hillary winning in November and was signing up to be a marine) and that I had better reasons for my fear than she did because, after all, a group of dwarfs wasn't in the process of starting World War 3. A few minutes later, in an attempt to make up for her absurd comment, she told me I was cute and she would date me if she wasn't with someone. I told her I didn't date conservatives and that was taken anyway, gesturing to my girlfriend, who was sitting next to me. After proclaiming that we were "adorable together," she made me a balloon elephant as a more than slightly ironic peace offering.
sue...LOL! that must have been the most annoying thing ever. i think i wouldve lost it :)
philosopher, that is the best story ever. gawd...i cant believe she actually told you that re: her latent fear. some people's brains are all mixed up like rotten scrambled eggs...im just sayin :)
did you pop her balloon? i wouldve! right in front of her! hehe
You are bound to attract a certain amount of attention Tiff. I'm with you on the second time around thing.
Ask me once if I need help, you'll get a polite "no thanks". But dont ask a second time. Or don't even think about saying "are you sure?" That'll bring out that side of me that frankly borders on unkind.
PC's experience jumps into my top 10 mental images list.
Tiff and I seem to be having all the fun lately. My mom lives a block, maybe a block and a half from
My experiences at the grocery store (click here & here ) are nothing like Tiff's (click here
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