This time yesterday I was in the supermarket. Shopping of any sort is not a favourite activity for me and grocery shopping is my least favourite. I do admit I don't mind it as much these days when I have no time constraints. And I do try to not be one of those oldies that gets in everyone else's way.
I was already in a pretty happy mood as I'd had my laugh for the day when I had an amusing exchange with a rather morose looking young Maori guy while I was parking my car. He was standing smoking beside his car when I pulled alongside it to reverse into the space behind his vehicle. He must have thought I wasn't up to the task as he came up beside my car and started giving me hand directions and let out a very loud "whooa" when he thought I was close enough to the car behind. I was amused by this as I don't need any help to reverse into a carpark, thank you very much. But I decided to be polite and called out a thank you to the man as I locked the car.
He was still there when I returned to the car but had undergone some sort of personality change. He approached me and with a big smile and asked did I need his help to get out of the parking spot? I was tempted to give him a half smart response but instead told him I'd appreciate it if he could keep an eye on my back bumper for me when I reversed. As I got into the car he said, "See ya. And you have a lovely day, young lady."
I wonder if he still feels as good today about helping a senior citizen as I do about letting him do so.
It was busy in the supermarket. I seemed to be moving through the aisles at the same speed as a young man with a little girl, around two years old. He obviously wasn't very familiar with the lay out and I'm just slow. When he threw goods into his trolley it's a wonder they didn't break or burst open. He wasn't a very gentle soul. I was behind him when we reached an aisle blockage. A lady had left her trolley in the middle of the aisle. Without hesitation the guy advanced on the trolley and with a quick right hand down movement flicked his trolley to the right, knocking the other out of his way. There's probably a better word to describe that trolley driving action. He said, "Oh sorry" (yeah right!) and marched on through the gap. I smartly followed, trying to suppress my smile. The look on the face of the unthoughtful shopper who had just left her trolley there without a thought for anyone else, was gold.
When the young man next stopped to add to his purchases I remarked that he had some good trolley action back there.
"Haven't got all day. The missus is crook."
Then, in a much softer tone, "I need to get home to her."
I hope the missus is feeling better day.
I try not to brag too much on my blog about the achievements of my grandchildren. I don't mind if the world knows how much I love them but I don't really want to be one of those boring overly adoring grandmothers.
Young Jami does deserve a special mention, though. She has been blessed with a lovely signing voice and I firmly believe it is our duty to develop the gifts with which we were born. Jami has done that. On Wednesday and Thursday nights she performed with her all girl school band in a charity fund raising concert with the theme being a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Rolling Stones performing at the Auckland Town Hall, a dedication to the Rolling Stones concert. Imagine - my 16 year old granddaughter, performing at the Auckland Town Hall and getting a standing ovation after performing a very scaled back version of Sympathy for the Devil. I reckon Mick would have been proud.
The photo is courtesy of Blair Quax.
Hope this link works, I'm hopeless at this sort of thing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVk6lHf2AT4