Went Christmas caroling last night and had an amazing time only to return home around 11:30pm, reminded that our supply of toilet paper was exhausted…kind of like me. So, had to get back in the still warm car and make a midnight toilet paper run (ugh…I’m not making this up). Navigated the sleepy streets with a smile tucked away in the corners of my mouth thinking, “Maybe this won’t take very long and I can get home and in the warm bed like everyone else,” right? I pulled into the Wal-Mart parking lot and before me lay a sea (not a pond or even a lake…a SEA) of cars and pickup trucks. “What in the world?” I thought as I got out of the car and began the 5k trek toward the ominous, ever-opening and closing sliding doors. The rawness of my emotions momentarily overcame me and yes, I admit, I marched through the EXIT door instead of the ENTER door in silent protest! Probably not the most chaplainish example, huh? 😊
Stepping inside the warmth of the store, my eyes were immediately assaulted by the overwhelming spectacle of people scurrying around me and scanning to my left, I saw them collecting in one of 3, yes, I said 3, open checkout lines. The life in my very soul now began to seep away as I considered what I hoped would be a short shopping trip would now become an excursion in patience. Maybe if I grab a few other things, the crowd will work its way through and it won’t SEEM like I’m there as long. So I grabbed a gallon of milk, a little OJ and even a pack of bagels for the morning, but nope…
Did I tell you there were only 3 checkout lines open?? I trudged over to where everyone was gathered, feeling as though I had entered some kind of retail purgatory. All around me, other nomadic travelers of the night whose hopes and dreams had also been dashed were assembled, many armed with not-so-encouraging words, their buggies (is that how you spell that?) stocked either with a few items like my own or bedded down with enough stuff to support the well-being of a small country….in the SAME LINE!
After a whopping 39 minutes of counting the fluorescent lights in the ceiling and cautiously watching/hearing the Christmas spirit of disgruntled people, I arrived before the cashier. She scanned my few items and I was finally able to escape. I don’t remember much about the drive home other than falling into the bed for much too little sleep before the early church service this morning. (Yawn)
Merry Christmas, ya’ filthy animals… 😊
<εφημεριος><
