Some People Just Don't Get It

Today was the dreaded "gotta go to the commissary" day. I thought maybe it wouldn't be too bad since it's been a couple days since payday and Thanksgiving isn't until next week, but, I was wrong. There were the usual folks there with their carts in the middle of the aisle, the ones standing around talking to their friends (yes, I've done that too...feeling guilty and awkward the entire time), but today there was one particular lady (heretofor referred to as "crazy lady") who came off as if this were her personal shopping day and the rest of us there were encroaching in her shopping experience.

We had "met" in a few aisles already - you know, when you're headed in opposite directions and end up crossing paths in every aisle. So, the last "aisle meeting" happened in the bread/frozen chimichanga aisle. Of course, it's near the holidays so there's a bunch of displays down the center of the aisle. This means you have to pick one side or the other and hope that no one comes "down" your side while your headed "up". Somehow I've ended up on the same side as "crazy lady"...in front of the frozen chimis. She's on the other side picking up some bread product, but her cart is on the frozen side...and of course, there's no room to pass. I too need some bread products, so since I can't move my cart, I just run over to the other side and get my bagels...quickly. Now she wants to shop for the chimis and I'm stuck behind her...waiting.

I managed to miss "crazy lady" in the remaining frozen/fridge sections, but run into her again when we head toward the checkout lane. There are about 15 other people waiting in line to check out at this point. I fall in line behind the other sheep and "crazy lady" falls in behind me. Not 30 seconds after getting in line, she says, "I forgot something. Can you watch my cart?" (This means, "Can you pull my cart along behind you since I'm too lazy to get out of line to go get what I need?!) Reluctantly, I smile and say "Sure." She comes back about 5 minutes later with both arms full of bags of noodles and something else - I tried not to pay attention. (Note: It takes anywhere from 10-30 minutes to get through a commissary checkout line!)

I think I'm home free at this point, but NO! About 5 minutes later, she decides she needs to go check out the sushi section. I let the poor lady behind her take care of her cart this time...I was close to being "NEXT!" to checkout.

Finally, a lane is clear and I get to move away from the herd. I didn't see "crazy lady" after that. Problem is...there's always a "crazy lady" at the commissary....I just hope it's not me!