Weird day

This was the oddest day, so odd that I cannot resist noting it in my blog.  First thing every day, I turn on my computer.  Ok, after the bathroom and letting out the dog, I turn on my computer.  Today it did not boot.  It fizzled.  I dressed and dashed to the computer service.  I came home and daydreamed about how different things were for the early feminists; mimeo machines, postage stamps and weeks for information to travel.  Now we can reach millions of people with email, the internet and even watch congress on TV.  How different it all is now.  For good or bad, how different.

Fortunately for me, the PC problem was the video fan and it was easily repaired.  I picked it up by 5 and stopped at the grocery store.  Upon parking the car, I saw the strangest event.  There was a muscle man in a sleeveless T-shirt and tiny gym shorts screaming  at the top of his lungs at a gray haired short woman and a 10 year old cub scout.  As I got my cart, he was demanding to speak to the manager.  He wanted the store to remove the den mother and scout immediately.  He walked inside.

I just could not resist asking the woman if she was okay and was there anything I could do for her.  She told me that this man was screaming because scouts won't let gays be scout leaders.  She then began to state the position of the Boy Scouts of America and defend it.  I stopped her and said, "Well I am gay and I know that this is not the place for such a discussion.  It is an adult discussion and not appropriate with scouts or in parking lots. 

Then I went inside to get my groceries.  When I was done, she was standing outside waiting for me.  She thanked me for being nice to her and wanted to debate the issue with me.  I told her it was an adult discussion for concerned adults ~ not for either side to debate in a parking lot. 

It felt like I was in the Twilight Zone.  Of course recovery was swift as my computer is fine!  I celebrated with my new diet sensation.  Organic, of course.

Comments

[Wendy Werris]

This is brilliant - also one of the reasons why I'm now
reading your blog every day.

w

[Brian P]

"I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone". Sounds like a pretty typical day at the store for me. Men in sleeveless T-shirts trying to have some sort of heated political discussion in the parking lot and then coming inside and making their problems my problems is almost mild compared with some of the people I've encountered over the years. Sorry if I sound cynical but twenty two years in that business will do it to you. That's why I start in the middle of the night, put the stuff on the shelf, punch out, pick up my paycheck and go home. I'm just hoping one of these days I'll be seeing that place in my rear view.

Nice handleing on your part. I also liked the way you answered the woman at the talk at Cal State Fullerton who tried to turn the whole discussion into an abortion debate. Just about the most eloquent response to such a quesion I have ever heard.