It’s all about perspective. Many things can be annoying, but if you look at them differently they can be humorous. The world and people in it are complicated so it’s easy to get annoyed by any number of situations. Just say ‘No’ I’m going to turn this into a funny moment. Look for the humor. It’s out there, just waiting to be noticed.
When you start a job you get training, which is valuable but sometimes it also strips away your common sense. At least that’s what it seems like to the casual observer. Here’s a short story about an encounter I recently had at the deli. As always, I took the opportunity to exaggerate it to make it more interesting.
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I was at Schnucks grocery store the other day. I went to the deli while Mimi roamed around the store looking for other items. I stood at the counter and grabbed a number, even though no one else was waiting, because you never know if someone with stealth qualities would sneak up and take a ticket before you.
A butcher, or more accurately a deli guy, walked up. He casually looked around but didn’t speak, so I said. “I have number 5.” He went over to the right to view the ticket counter and said “3”. No response, of course there was no response. . . I was the only one there. He continued his futile plight to find number 3. Speaking louder he said “3.” Again, no response. He tried a third time “3.” Still no response.
Once again he walked back to the ticket counter and tapped it. I thought he’s done with 3. I felt confident that I would be next as anyone could see I was the only one there.
He spoke with authority “4.” No one answered. Was 4 missing also? Again, he said “4.” I waited for someone to miraculously appear before me, but it didn’t happen. A third time 4 was requested with no response. The deli guy moved over to the ticket counter and tapped it. He then looked around and said “f..” when he was interrupted by a lady who seemed to appear out of nowhere. She stood next to me holding a ticket, “I’m 3.”
The deli guy nodded and asked her, “How can I help you?”
I shook my head and wondered, “Where in the God’s green earth did you come from?” My eyes started to water. “Wait! Why are we back at 3? Will he call 4 again?” My head swiveled looking for someone holding ticket 4 but saw no one. I could be in an alternate universe invisible to others. That was my only explanation.
She pulled out her list and proceeded to read, “One pound of smoked ham, shaved, two pounds of mesquite turkey, shaved, two pounds of prime roast beef, thin but not shaved, four slices of horseradish cheddar and two slices of bologna. I’ll wait. Oh! Can I taste the ham and turkey before you cut them?”
My shoulders drooped. I threw my number 5 on the counter and walked away. When I caught up with Mimi, I told her. “I heard deli meat wasn’t good for you. Let’s skip it today.”
About ten minutes later I went to get some sourdough bread which is located next to the deli I heard the deli guy say, “5.” He held up his hand and repeated “5.”
I laughed and turned to walk away when I heard a customer say, “I have 7.” All I could think was “Good luck buddy.”
