Thursday, July 9, 2009

Life's Lessons #4: Wait Your Turn


We all have pet peeves, right? I'm about to expound upon one of my big ones: when people don't wait their turn. When I originally composed this, I was quite scathing. I have since repented of my "venom" and decided I need to be more charitable. Either way, I must acknowledge that respectfully waiting in line is a dying "art" or "lesser virtue" in life that I think the world could use more of (that is poor grammar, but you know what I mean).

You've seen it happen. You're driving along and someone speeds ahead to slide right in front of you at the light. Woohoo. Good for you. You now have a 2 second head start on me. Good thing you managed to get in front.
Or here's another one: you wait patiently at the zoo to see "X" animal. Just before you get there, someone has to zip in front of you to plant themselves right in front of your view (small children I can tolerate doing this. But adults with strollers? Come on).
Or here's another one: you're waiting to pick up a prescription at Kroger's. The line is pretty non-descript. More of a huddle, actually, but everyone there knows who is next. You. Everyone knows, that is, except one guy. Right when it should be your turn, the pharmacist calls out "can I help who's next?", you lean forward on the balls of your feet to take a step to the counter, and some wise guy pops out from behind an aisle and speeds up to the counter with a desperate pharmacological need that somehow trumps yours.

Waiting to talk to the lady at the airport? Waiting for the hose at the community garden? No matter where you are, there's bound to be someone who doesn't think they need to wait their turn. Is it just me, or does the squeaky wheel REALLY need all that grease right now? Come on, why can't the patient person be rewarded for their patience every once and awhile? (this coming from someone-- me-- who is definitely NOT patient and therefore thinks that any excruciating efforts in that direction ought to be applauded, not walked on.)

You know what the pet peeve is really all about? People thinking they are the exception to the rule, that they don't need to wait in line like everybody else but can cut. People that think they are somehow special, above fences and sidewalks that think they can make their own path through a gap in the fence and go tromping around on the lawn as a short cut to beat the crowd to the park entrance rather than be put out to have to shuffle in line down the side walk like civilized human beings. Who do they think they are?

What do I think is the solution? Take a number, just like at the DMV and Joann's. and build better fences, I guess.

Or actually, what we could use is a little respect and consideration.

6 comments:

  1. I am SOOOO with you on this, Elisa!! The worst part is THEY DON'T KNOW THEY'RE WRONG, and they get mad when you point it out to them. Ridiculous!

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  2. I hear ya, Elisa!! And we do need to do the zoo soon so people can be rude to us! HA! What are you doing next week? I also have a COSI pass if you're interested in going there instead!

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  3. LOVE the numbers at JoAnns...but I've seen that fail as well...sigh...pushy quilters! ;)

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  4. I agree and always look forward to reading your life lessons! Thanks for coming to book club last night it was so much fun!

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  5. Yes, the saying that "Patience is a virtue" is true, but it is a lost virtue in our society and day and age. We just expect everything at our fingertips . . . NOW! Hopefully we can teach our children that it's not the end of the world to have to wait and that doing it nicely is a sign of a virtue. Love you life lessons.

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