Let s/he who is without sin....

I am often irritated by people blocking the narrow isles which are further cluttered by temporary cardboard displays - I'm in a hurry, you know? Then, on the next isle, I'll hear some one clear their throat or say, "excuse me," to draw my attention from searching the shelves to the fact that I stopped in the middle of the isle. Just like the people I shooed out of the way on the previous isle, I make apologetic noises or gestures and move my fat a$$ to the side.

One thing that really gripes me is the person who pays with a check and does not even pull the checkbook out until the groceries are all rung up. Other folks here have ranted about the same. However, checkout lines are so fast now, and my fine motor skills have deteriorated enough that I find it impossible to be ready to walk away from the register by the time my groceries are bagged and check out has started for the person behind me. By the time I get everything tucked back in where it belongs, and am gathering the bag handles for my own purchases, the person behind me is often shifting impatiently, waiting for me to get out of the way. When the store is busy I will find myself choosing slightly longer lines so that there is time for me to pull out the wallet and wiggle out the "preferred shopper" discount card, my debit card, a pen and the checkbook opened to the proper page in the register, just so I have some chance of finishing the payment transaction by the time the groceries are all bagged. Rarely happens, and even when it does, I still have all those items, or the change if I paid with cash, to handle back into the wallet and purse. I don't have tremors and my hands and fingers don't look impaired or abnormal. They simply don't work well anymore. It must drive the people in line behind me, who are in as big a hurry after work to get home as am I, absolutely nuts.

I'm a bit more patient with other folks these days, and also find myself reluctant on occasion to face going to the store because of my embarrassment at my slowness and awareness of the impatience of others.