School of Hard Knocks

"I guess I'm just having a bad day," I said. I was in line at the grocery store. Not my favorite place to be. They were out of most everything I was looking for, so my small cart was nearly empty.

I placed the few items on the conveyor belt and began searching through all my little courtesy cards that fill my wallet.

It seems like I have one for everything but the kitchen sink. Oh wait, I have one for Lowe's and Home Depot. Never mind.

"There, I found it!" I said proudly.

"That's not for this store," she said.

I sighed and nervously searched for the right one. I was very aware that there was a line of people eager to get on with their day. I even heard someone say quietly, "This is the express check out, right?"

I turned and gave him one of those looks. Kind of like the one our dog Lucy gives the other two dogs, when she's playing Alpha dog.

I was at the checkout...I was alpha dog. "growl!"

"I guess I'm having a bad day," I repeated. Then I heard someone say, "There are no bad days, just bad attitudes."

"Rough crowd!" I thought to myself.

"You're right," I acknowledged. It was a young college age girl behind me who said it.

"Every once in awhile I need someone to knock some sense into me. I should know better," I said.

Then I attempted to pull the right card out of my wallet and six key chain size cards flew out.

"No...it's definitely a bad day!" I said in frustration.

Suddenly I felt something hit my head. Not hard, but certainly enough to get my attention.

I heard, "Knock, Knock!" as she used her knuckles to tap my head.

It was the girl behind me.

I turned with this shocked look on my face.

"I'm trying to knock some sense into you like you said," she replied.

Everyone laughed. Even the guy in the back of the line who made the "express checkout" comment.

"Thanks, I needed that!" I said.

I quickly paid the clerk and thanked the girl behind me.

As I sat in my car I watched her exit the store. She met up with a man and a young child in a wheel chair. They walked across the lot and I watched the girl pick the child up as the man folded the chair and loaded it in the back seat of a car. The car must have been at least 15 years old. It had more scratches and dents then I do at 60.

As they drove away I could hear her words... "There are no bad days, just bad attitudes."

Think you're having a bad day?

"Knock, knock!"

"I wish you enough!"
J
~ Bob Perks ~

Good news - Bob Perks' first book, "I Wish You Enough," Embracing Life's Most Valuable Moments... is now available for ordering. Here's the "Link" to get your copy of Bob's book: I Wish You Enough from Amazon.com.

[ by: Bob Perks Copyright © 2011 (2believe@comcast.net) -- {used with permission} ]