"Checkout Line Gift"

Previously I spoke on my unique ability to draw crying babies or bratty children to within one row of my airplane seat(9/23/03 blog).

For my next act, one more commonly shared, I will draw back the curtain and reveal my "Checkout line Gift". When I get in the checkout line at virtually any large department store, especially during peak hours and holiday times, I will inevitably get behind someone who experiences one of (or a combination of ) the following:

1. Oh, shoot that was my last check I wrote earlier this morning. Let me call my husband who is out in the car to come in and pay.
2. Did I only get one of those, I wanted two.
3. That can't be the right price. I'm sure that it said $5.95 instead of $6.95.
4. I forgot my lettuce. I'll be right back.
5. How much? I guess that I have to take these off of the ticket, or maybe these, no wait...
6. I'm sorry sir, but it's shift change and I need to close out my register. Your new cashier is on the way.

It is so frequent that anyone that gets behind me in line receives a complimentary warning. I try and let them know that this would be a "waiting" line. I then proceed to explain the "gift". They usually smile understandably and stay in line. Ten minutes later they are looking for the next line to get into.

Initially I explored all sorts of reasons as to why this was happening to me.

Spiritual reasons ranged from God wanting me to learn patience to the Devil wanting me to kill people and go to jail.

Paranoid reasonings that people had it out for me and just waited for me to get to the store to mess with my head (lithium took care of those).

Logical thoughts that this was just coincidence were overshadowed by the sheer volume of incidences.

I tested it out. I would go the shortest line...same thing. I then thought that I would go to the longest line and fake out the gift. No luck. Same result.

I finally accepted that this was just to be. One of those things that is. Something not to be toyed with.

Acceptance is the final stage isn't it?

See you in line:)

WH