Obscenities Screamed at Me? It’s been awhile …

I had a strange experience at the grocery store this evening: a woman screamed the most severe obscenities at me in such a venomously furious voice that I actually had a flashback to my childhood. (I grew up in a home with a LOT of swear words and many of them were directed to me.)

It was so weird. I just haven’t heard those words in that combination out loud for a long, long time. Oh! How grateful I was that the girls were not with me. (I tried to have a conversation with Sophia about profanity the other day and even just trying to describe “the S word” made absolutely no sense to her. I was overwhelmed with gratitude that my little seven year-old was completely ignorant as to what that word could possibly be. By her age—actually, way earlier than her age—I had heard every swear word in the book and then some.)

So anyway … it was a strange and disorienting experience. But hopefully it won’t be repeated soon.

I’ll close with just one more observation …

I’ve only been “out” in the stores since Thanksgiving TWICE and it just seems like people are revved up to an even more heightened level of surliness. Driving faster and more aggressively. Impatient in checkout lines. Mean to other shoppers. Angry with their children. Angry with everyone around them. It’s so sad and strange and so completely to be avoided (!). I think I’m just going to not shop again until 2012.

Hope your shopping experiences have been more pleasant!

And, of course, I encourage you to think about shopping at places like Women of Hope International, Sarah’s Covenant Home India, Shared Hope International, and (my mother-in-law’s favorite Christmas gift—which we all love!), Heifer International. Now THOSE are some gifts that don’t require parking at a mall, elbowing your way through crowds of people spending money they can’t afford to buy presents that people neither want or need. Blech! Why not give a gift that really matters in the scope of eternity? Mmmmmmm. It is such a good thing to do good.

Sending my love and hopes that your week is a blessed one!

Your friend,
Tara B.