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Jul. 13th, 2008
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Jul. 13th, 2008 07:55 pmA brief, baffling encounter with a Wal-Mart cashier:
Cashier: How old were you when you moved into your first apartment? (She's ringing up my stuff as we talk)
Me: 23, when I got married.
Cashier: What? How old are you now?!
Me: 33...Why is she so appalled?
Cashier: No. NO way are you 33. I refuse to give you your receipt until you tell me how old you really are.
Me: I'm 33! You just checked my ID (for the credit card. I proceed to flip my wallet open again because by now I somehow feel compelled to prove to this chick that I am, indeed, 33.) See? 1975.
Cashier: I cannot believe you are only three years younger than my mom.
Me: What?! Oh...wow. Well, that makes me feel old. But, uh, I guess it can make you realize your mom isn't as old as you thought. (you see, I'm rambling because I'm so thrown by this whole conversation.)
Cashier: Well, anyway, when you rented your first apartment did you rent from an individual or a company?
By this point, I'm standing there with my bags--and my receipt--and trying to walk away. The conversation went on for several more minutes as she proceeded to tell me about the conundrum she was in trying to find furniture for her potential apartment.
I've always known that people like to talk to me. In my experience, it isn't uncommon for strangers to open up to me out of the blue like that. Chris likes to tease me that I'm a giant ear, and when people see me they feel compelled to talk. I'm a listener and usually I'm cool with that role. Also, I know I have a young face. That's something I've dealt with my whole life. I guess I just haven't run into it lately because I always have the kids with me wherever I go. When you have a nine year old kid, people tend to believe you're actually in your thirties. They don't accuse you of blatantly lying.
However, it was just the combination of the two--giant ear+kid face--that led to this cashier's odd reaction to me. It was bizarre. I walked away wondering what had just happened.
Gotta love Wal-mart.
Cashier: How old were you when you moved into your first apartment? (She's ringing up my stuff as we talk)
Me: 23, when I got married.
Cashier: What? How old are you now?!
Me: 33...Why is she so appalled?
Cashier: No. NO way are you 33. I refuse to give you your receipt until you tell me how old you really are.
Me: I'm 33! You just checked my ID (for the credit card. I proceed to flip my wallet open again because by now I somehow feel compelled to prove to this chick that I am, indeed, 33.) See? 1975.
Cashier: I cannot believe you are only three years younger than my mom.
Me: What?! Oh...wow. Well, that makes me feel old. But, uh, I guess it can make you realize your mom isn't as old as you thought. (you see, I'm rambling because I'm so thrown by this whole conversation.)
Cashier: Well, anyway, when you rented your first apartment did you rent from an individual or a company?
By this point, I'm standing there with my bags--and my receipt--and trying to walk away. The conversation went on for several more minutes as she proceeded to tell me about the conundrum she was in trying to find furniture for her potential apartment.
I've always known that people like to talk to me. In my experience, it isn't uncommon for strangers to open up to me out of the blue like that. Chris likes to tease me that I'm a giant ear, and when people see me they feel compelled to talk. I'm a listener and usually I'm cool with that role. Also, I know I have a young face. That's something I've dealt with my whole life. I guess I just haven't run into it lately because I always have the kids with me wherever I go. When you have a nine year old kid, people tend to believe you're actually in your thirties. They don't accuse you of blatantly lying.
However, it was just the combination of the two--giant ear+kid face--that led to this cashier's odd reaction to me. It was bizarre. I walked away wondering what had just happened.
Gotta love Wal-mart.