I am feeling totally grumpy today. There is no earthly reason to justify my grumpiness, but there it is.
Wait a minute! Maybe there are some reasons why I'm so grumpy that I'm practically channeling Andy Rooney.
First of all, there is the subject of shopping carts in the grocery store. I just got back from getting some groceries and, living on my own as I do, I don't have excessive grocery needs.
Therefore, I really do like that some of the stores I frequent have those nifty, little square carts that are just perfect for someone such as myself. But one of the stores I go to has made a limited investment in the little carts and even chasing one down in the parking lot was unsuccessful this time.
So, there I am, pushing around this whale of a cart, meanwhile watching these shoppers obviously buying food for the coming millennium and jamming all this stuff, including things like a 12-pack of paper towels, into a little bitty cart, precariously balancing the peanut butter next to a six pack of soda.
All in a cart that was obviously intended just for me. So, don't try to duck down the frozen food aisle just to hide.
You know who you are.
I got grumpier and grumpier as I saw these giant 6-foot tall men pushing around these dainty carts as well. Come ON, guys. You drive those great big honking trucks - drive a matching shopping cart, for heaven's sake!
One of my problems with the 18-wheeler size carts is that they are so deep, stuff gets stuck in the back corners where it is almost impossible for little 5-foot-2-inch me to get to.
I practically perform a Heimlich Maneuver on myself, stretching over the side of the cart, reaching for that jar of blueberry jam that has rolled way to the back corner. Sheesh, no wonder I feel so grumpy.
And don't get me started on pokey drivers - yeah, in the grocery store but also on the road.
Granted, I have at times been accused of having a bit of a lead foot. (Note to traffic officials: I have a bright red, sporty little car.)
However, it is just not fair, when I'm late for an appointment or have ice cream melting in the trunk of my car with the rest of my groceries, that I get behind someone striving to win the slow-poke of the year award.
Honestly, if some of these folks drove any slower, they'd be going backwards! And there I am, directly behind them. Again, sheesh!
Grumpiness, though, is merely a state of mind and all this kvetching has actually made me feel a little bit better. After all, I got my groceries and my ice cream hadn't yet melted before I got it into the freezer.
Maybe I was making a mountain out of that proverbial mole hill.
Who knows, maybe I'll need to do a Heimlich Maneuver on myself one day in the produce section, having munched down incorrectly on a sample grape.
There is a reason for everything. I do know that.
To tell the truth though, sometimes it's fun to be a little grumpy. As near to perfect as I am, I do occasionally lapse into some less than wonderful sides of my personality.
So, gentle reader, I'm going to suggest that sometimes it's OK to be grumpy and for the folks in your life to be that way as well. You'll get over it and they'll get over it.
The upside to grumpiness is that the world looks so much better when you let go of it - even though sometimes it can be a perversely interesting state of mind!
Questions may be directed to Smith at susan@journeyintopower.com. For more information, visit www.journeyintopower.com. Her column is published on the second and fourth Sunday of the month.
