Trash Compactor Bags

Twas the night before Christmas....well actually, it was the day before.....and I was at work......and I re-learned a funny lesson I simply had to note.

We have a trash compactor in our kitchen.  It's about as old as I am, but it works and works well.  We use it almost exclusively.  However, over the years, we have discovered that it works best with the paper trash compactor bags, the plastic ones tend to gum it up.  As of late, though, it has become more and more difficult to find them.  They used to be a Wal-Mart, and United.  Not recently.  After an online search, we found that Sears carries them, and we were down to our last bag.  To avoid us being buried in kitchen trash over the Christmas break, I volunteered to brave Sears on Christmas Eve for compactor bags, and thought it would be easier earlier in the day.....which of course meant I would be in my police uniform.

For those of you that have experienced Lubbock holiday traffic, especially on Slide Road around the mall, much detail is not needed on the difficulties I faced with just getting to Sears.  For those not blessed with such an experience, think Hulen Mall in Dallas....very comparable.

By the grace of God, I made it to the mall...alive.  Of course, there were NO close spots.  Driving through the massive parking lot was NO fun.  The trek across the parking lot after finding a distant spot, under the marking BFE, was NOT warm.  The store was CROWDED.  My mood was WANING.

I made my way through the throng.  Bearing in mind I am a man, I refused to ask where the compactor bags were, and wandered aimlessly through the store as any good man does.  After racking my brain, having not experienced the dumb luck of stumbling across them in a manner of sheer luck, it dawns on me....major appliances.  And at that same moment, a clerk asked me if I needed help.  I put my man-card in my pocket and asked.....2nd floor.  Mood continues to wane.

I stood in line for the lone escalator, made my way up, wandered some more, and finally found the compactor area.  And there they were, like a rainbow after the storm, trash compactor bags.  For good measure, I got 2 packs.  But mood was not improving yet and I knew I faced the check-out experience.

I made my way to the nearest check-out counter, waited in the line, among all the folks with presents, and took my turn at the register.  Despite the find and nearing the end of my trek, my mood had not improved, I just wanted to pay and go.  I set the bags on the counter, and set my sights on the check-out clerk.  She was probably in her late 60's, and I imagine had been on her feet for the better part of a week dealing with holiday shoppers.  She did not greet me, she did not smile, she did not seem to be in a hurry like I was....she just looked at me for a few seconds.  I just knew I was about to get some "Do you know officer so-n-so?" or "I got this ticket...." or "Let me ask you a question" or something else that would extend my stay.  And then she asked it....the question that turned my day right around.

"So, I take it that these are your traditional yearly gifts for the family?"  followed by a wry smile.

I laughed so hard I know I made a fool out of myself.  Here was this lady, obviously tired herself, working long hours, dealing with us customers during such a busy time, and she had not lost any sense of humor at all.  When I finally regained my composure, I responded, "Actually, we use these for stocking stuffers."  We had a good laugh together as she rang my bags up and exchanged a few more pleasantries.  She thanked me for the job we do, and off I went after a warm, "Merry Christmas to you and your family" exchange.

My mood had completely changed...and it took a lesson from the nice lady at Sears.  The lesson being no matter how busy the season, no matter how hurried the crowd is, no matter where circumstance places you, smile and laugh.  And I learned it well this Christmas season.

To all my family and friends, smile and laugh, and I hope you all have a blessed and happy 2011.