So, it's Thanksgiving. A time to reflect on the bounty we enjoy in this country and be thankful. Families get together and enjoy a meal and time together. Christians thank God, the provider of the feast....so..... I was just wondering....what did all those people buy on Black (Thanksgiving night) Friday 12 a.m.  that couldn't have waited until 8 am Friday morning. Did I really need to give up my Thanksgiving so you could buy those 2 bananas???
I can appreciate a good bargain like anyone else...but sacrificing my family time so that you can buy ANOTHER TV at midnight?
Well, just another step away from the thing that made this country great. I can sure see why some people are humbug about the holidays. It's all about the stuff we want and the man wanting to sell it to you first. Cold and impersonal. I even got cussed out by a lady who thought it was too much trouble to take her 'price match' (that I'd already told her was not eligeable) to the service desk. I don't make the policy! You're Christmas shopping. Christmas...the celebration of the birth of the Savior who came to give you eternal life. And you're swearing at me!!!!
Well, most of the people were having fun and in a much better frame of mind. But really........
Would a thank you have been too much?

Wow...I should proofread my thoughts. I had a headfull of thoughts on my last blog and I only typed half of them, so it doesn't make sense...lol.
Oh well. What can I say.

What does it say about our society, the need for things has replace the need to be thankful. Stores now open at midnight, or never close at all, on Thanksgiving.
What happened to reflecting on the reason we have the privilege of having things.
We have forgotten that giving thanks for the blessings we enjoy freely. Maybe it seems archaic, but have we forgotten?
As a superstore cashier I see 'things without gratitude' all the time. Now, on the day of our Thankgiving, I will be having to plan my day around being at work at midnight. Instead of enjoying the evening with some leftover turkey, pumpkin pie and family.....well, it's all so that the public can get more things.
Why the day after Thanksgiving? The next step is going to be that stores won't even close for Thanksgiving. All to buy 'things without gratitude' for Christmas, which by the way, is a holiday that has nothing to do with havings things anyway. Now, I'm not against the Christmas present. They're fun to give and to get. I'm just saying that something is out of whack. We've lost sight of what it's really all about.
So, I will try to figure out how to clean the house, cook the turkey and trimmings, set a nice table, clean it all up, spend some time with the family, get the leftovers out, and put away again, all before I work an eight hour shift ringing up 'things without gratitude' for all those people who will spend more than they should on things they'll just end up returning anyway. 
And, I'm pretty sure they won't be thankful.

 Inner dialog: "Oh for heaven sake, couldn't you have cut out those (12) coupons before I rang up your items?? Maybe you could have figured out which ones you purchased that way. There are 3 people waiting to check out."

You know, it seems there are some people that think that life is all about them. This lady had no consideration at all for anyone else around her. She was very absorbed in herself.

Just the other day my faith in humanity was restored....

My cashier friend told me about a very generous lady at her check stand.
There was a fellow who had checked out only to realize he didn't have his wallet with him. He left to get the wallet so he could return and complete his purchase.
The lady checking out behind him said to my cashier friend..."just add his to mine".
Now....her bill was around two hundred dollars, his was around forty five. That is no small gesture on her part.
Of course when the gentlman returned my cashier friend had the privilege of telling him that his bill had been taken care of.
Wow...what a day that fellow must have had.  His debt was paid in full!

Reminds me of what Jesus did for me. My sin debt was something I could not pay...Jesus came along and said I'll take care of your debt. So when time comes for me to pay the debt for my sin....God will say your debt has been paid.

Thank you!

"Okay, so, you have 12 cherries in the bag.....that will be .59 cents.
 Ummm...ma'am, you only have .12 cents on this card?
Okay....I'll put 7 cherries back <calling grocery to pick up 7 cherries>.......that comes to .17 cents.
Take out one more huh....okay. <grocery..I have another cherry> So that will be .11 cents.
Swipe your card and press okay.  Oh I'm sorry, you pressed cancel...I'll just swipe it up here. The machine says the card is not valid. I'm sorry ma'am...okay, I'll call a supervisor.
Okay, I won't. How would you like to pay.
You only have 8 cents........
You know what ma'am...enjoy the cherries, they're on me today.
Have a nice day."

10 min later I saw her coming out of the bathroom.....I'm sure there was cherry juice dripping from her chin,

Ok...so the whole "got my cell phone medically attached to my hand and ear. So, I HAVE to be on it no matter how rude it is" thing is starting to get on my nerves. Unless the doctor is calling with the results of your pregnancy test, that call could wait the 2 minutes it will take me to check you thru. I need to ask you a question.....I need you to answer me....or at least LOOK at me and nod.
Here is an example of what you could say to the girlfriend your dissing your husband to...."could I call you back, I'm standing in front of this nice lady who is cheerfully helping me with my purchase and I would be completely rude if I didn't at least acknowlege that she is bagging the 800 bottles of water I need for my pilates class. Ta ta....talk to you while I'm at the other superstore checklane waiting for................

Some gentlemen from Germany came through my checklane. They were so fun to help. The one paying was having trouble getting his card to work and finally one of the other men paid. The first fellow looked at me, shrugged, said "that is one way to get him to pay", then high fived me.
Made me laugh...wore a smile the rest of the evening.

Doesn't any body make food from scratch these days....I mean really, how hard is it to make rice krispy treats....cut up an apple....put a few carrots in a small bag....

Oh boy...today I was scammed. A lady came through my check lane and left without paying. I still haven't figured out how it happened. I didn't even realize it until I had scanned the next persons things and her total came up way high. I realized I was adding hers to the lady who'd just left.
Explain that to your superior....yikes!!!

I have spent my life in a bubble I guess. It just does not occur to me that people do that kind of thing. I have been stunned and saddened by the dishonesty I see in people. Where are the morals, the virtues that made us great. Have we stooped so low that women wearing huge diamonds, well groomed french nails and expensive garments are stealing loaves of bread? Is there no sense of what is right?

Even super stores have their off days....played musical register stations today. The scale would'nt weigh the bananas....the card reader wouldn't let the customers sign....the belt wouldn't move....
Maybe time for new registers!

one rude lady....one sweet lady with a baby....a funny fellow....lady with nice kids....one rude lady.....cute little old man.....one handsome dude in a suit <smells good too>......lady with newborn.....another new born....older lady, very sweet.....one rude lady on cell phone....
and so it goes.....

Thank you for removing the hangers....and finding all the price tags...it's a pleasure to help you.

As I stood in my check lane today I watched people come in and out of the store. My thoughts took me to the recent shootings in my town and across the country. I wondered if there had been someone doing their job, watched the shooter walk in and not even realize what they were about to witness. That man walking in with a large coat on...could he be carrying a gun. If I make him mad will he shoot at me. If he is mad at his boss will he just start shooting randomly. If he can't find what he wants will he.....well, the questions pop into my mind as I stand at a register full of cash and not many people around. Who was that guy sitting in that running car outside the door. Is he waiting for something? Should I be concerned.
It makes me sad that I find myself wondering these things. All I want to do is help you get your purchases made so you can take them home to your family.
Thank God that we don't sell guns!

Well, the rush and headaches of the holidays are history and things are very quiet in the morning. Slow easy pace. If I could sleep standing up, I'd have had a great nap today. Nice, quiet day. Very quiet. Almost too quiet. So quiet I dusted the candy bars in my lane! Cleaning the keys on my register kind of quiet....where did all the shoppers go? Don't they need anything? Don't they know there are bargains galore?? For crying out loud, YOU CAN BUY CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS FOR 40 CENTS!!!!!!! AREN'T YOUR LEFTOVERS GONE YET...COME BUY A LOAF OF BREAD FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, so it's the law that I have to card you when you purchase alcohol. It is also required by my employer to ask you for ID to purchase alcohol. And....in order to complete your transaction I have to enter your birthdate into the computer. If I don't, the computer won't allow me to sell it to you. I realize you look like Moses older brother, but if I don't put your birthdate in the systerm, it will stop me. And the system can't see your gray nose hair!!!!! So I have to tell it!!!!!
So, now, is it really THAT big a deal to tell me your birthdate? Oh, now you call me stupid! Because I'm following the law!!!! You're like those drivers who flip you off because you're going the speed limit!!!
Calm down, so you don't want to announce to the cutie behind you that you're older than Moses, just show me your drivers liscense, I can read <even if you think I"m stupid> it off the card, enter it into the system and get you out of my lane.
Watch your language....and no I'm not dumber than %@*&# and you're not being nice to that minority.
Oh great, now you have me crying....and here comes the front end manager....what do you mean you don't want it!!
I think he was proof alcohol makes people stupid!

I get a real chuckle out of some of the folks that come through. Take the women, for instance, that come through with tampax, pamprin, chocolate and icecream. You kind of know what their day has been like.