“The world is going to hell”

He said looking at me like he expected a contrarian response.

“And I wish more people would see that. But nobody seems to care although I get it, as if there’s anything anyone can do about it”

“Whatareyagonnado” I replied. And then said to myself “perhaps this one might start by trying to be more pleasant to strangers in the checkout queue at the Dollar Tree”

“What really gets to me” he continued stiffening his back in an apparent attempt at dignified pathos “is thinking about all those parents with boys in the service. I just can’t imagine what it’s like nowadays what with all these wars going on”

“I can’t imagine” I agreed hoping that might lead to some kind of transition to simple closing pleasantries but alas…

“I always thank them for their service when I see em” he spat out like what was left of yesterday’s lunch stuck between his teeth “I always say that… you know I think it’s our duty to tell them that, I think”

He looked at me with that quizzical eye that sought some indication as to where I was on the topic. An angry, bloodshot eye bulging with bile from god knows how many hours in front of Fox News (or worse) every day saturating his being as he sat muttering and shouting his hate. (Ok so now I’m the one unfairly stereotyping)

“I always do… “ he was saying but trailing off as the queue moved me into position in front of the cashier and I turned to engage in what would usually save me from the normal flavor of social challenge presented here but apparently this man was not yet done with me.

“Say I have a question for you”

“Oh my” I said to myself as I turned and instantly conjured the most unthreatening face I could possibly muster and brought forth all I had to emit nothing but peace love and understanding.

Without any further prompting the man continued “who do you suppose pays all the astronauts?”

“I’m sorry” I replied truly taken aback by the non sequitur.

“You know… the astronauts?” he repeated as if that would make it less dissonant a thought “who pays them?”

“Uh… the government does so I guess we all do… “

“I’ll tell you the answer” he went on cutting me off and going on as if I had said nothing “the answer is… “ and then he paused with an odd smile.

“the answer is Starbucks get it?
Starbucks haha”

“Have a lovely holiday sir” was all I could come up with.

“Get it? They pay the astronauts with Starbucks”

I do… I get it. “Have a lovely holiday”

“You too”

(Note, this is not meant to impugn anyone at the dollar tree or any other person one might randomly find in a random checkout queue anywhere in this great nation)

Peace/Love

m(___)m

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