grocery shopping etiquette

I only had to pick up a few things at the market, so I picked myself up a little basket, had my list in hand, and embarked on a quick Sunday morning adventure. I felt pretty good strolling around in my Cons, shorts, and an old Animal tee--hair a complete hot mess from last night--until I had to interact with other shoppers.

Since when is it okay to completely block isles standing side by side with another carriage? Its actually not. And don't give me a dirty look when I politely say "excuse me" to get by. Hello world, I need to pick out what flavor of seltzer I want before it loses its fizz. I love nothing more than to see an old friend and have an in-aisle catch up, but I know better than to create traffic at peak shopping hours.

On a similar traffic note-- traveling through the aisles should be done like driving. Stay to your right. And if you are looking to enter either the front or back main aisle from one of the side aisles, you need to merge. You do NOT have the right away when entering one of the main aisles, especially when you have a HUGE cart full and are having trouble steering it. Don't cut me off when I have one little basket and you are pushing one cart and pulling another. Its wicked rude and annoying. And if you do, at least have the courtesy to smile and say thank you. People are so self-centered. Maybe my parents did a good job teaching me manners and what I would consider common courtesies... But to me its just one of the things that will always piss me off. Call me old fashioned, but I cannot stand people with poor manners. Anywhere. Are times really that different "nowadays"? Shopping is kind of a social activity and if one does not have social skills, it makes it typically good experience a very unpleasant one.

I was well under the 12-item limit for the express lane. I picked the shortest of all express lanes and the person in front of my only had a can of mini Pringles-- PERFECT. Then when it is her turn to pay, she whips out her WIC business--totally fine with it, some people need a little extra help. But then she opened her mouth treating the worker like her servant. Umm no. They are there to help you and get paid to do it, but you cannot treat them without respect. The girl at the check out did her usual "Good morning, how are you?" to the woman (which a lot of checkerouters aka cashiers do not do anymore) and the woman just said, "Yeah, get me this formula" and hands her the WIC things. SO rude. It just puts me in such a terrible mood. What is happening to the world?!

Also, don't be stare at/be rude to old folk, handicapped, obese, those of different ethnic backgrounds, or anyone who may be different for one reason or another. There is so much more to a person than what they appear to be.

Oh, and don't let your kids run wild and don't give them everything they want. You lose so much credibility that way.