All in a morning
I was patiently waiting for the customer service rep. I’d been standing in line for 15 minutes behind two people, and listening to the first one go through a long-winded explanation of how he come to the counter to purchase what he wanted. It was 9:30 am and my day had started off on the wrong foot.
Another five minutes go by. Finally, I move a step ahead. The next customer asks the same general questions as the first and gets a virtual repeat of what we heard only moments before. Ten minutes later, the customer leaves without getting what he wanted. In reality, he didn’t actually know what he wanted and that’s why he couldn’t make a decision. Go figure.
Now, it’s my turn. I don’t ask questions – I just tell the customer service rep what he can do for me. I’m out in under a minute with what I need, except a little cheaper because I didn’t want all the services offered to me as detailed in the sales brochure. Ahh, nothing like shopping like a boss!
Then I headed off to the local post office, where, much to my chagrin, the fast mail service hadn’t delivered as promised. But my thoughts about all the money I spent to get my package here quickly disappeared as a delivery notice appeared in my tiny mailbox just as I was about to leave. Aha, another task accomplished! Note to self: don’t fall for the quick and expensive way and accept the fact that snail mail does have its virtues in the long run.
Next, I popped into one of the few stores in town and quickly scanned the prices. With my list in hand, shopping is a breeze and I’m in and out within minutes with what I need. Believe or not, it’s already time for a coffee break! But I skip the coffee to track down an elusive employee of the local organization that looks after my politics. I know he is always at work for coffee break.
After a quick nibble on a stale cookie, I head back to the stores but don’t find what I need. So I forage at the local wreck yard and almost immediately find what I wanted for free. Heading over to my waiting mechanic, who looks full after what seems to be a large meal of cookies, I point out a stubborn crumb on his stubbled face. He falls for the trick and wipes grease all over his mouth. I say nothing and he gets curious looks from his co-workers.
Then it’s off to the restaurant for a cup of java, but I find that there’s still a line-up for breakfast. I toss down my toonie plus more to acknowledge the extra effort by the harried chef/waiter and leave with my hot cup in under a minute. Things are really humming along. I head back to the garage and find the mechanic just getting started. Aarggh!
Finally I get my Beast back, which is really an old truck pieced together from parts of dead ones dating from 1999 to 2005. I say it averages 2002 for an easy reference when asked its age by curious kids, who marvel at my antique wheels.
As the lunch hour nears, I’m back writing to my clients while the soup sings from its pot on the stove. The toast pops and it’s quickly slathered in mayo and salmon. Lunch is readied for those who need nutrition after a hard morning at work and school. I’m writing quickly, before the early morning musings disappear from my solutions arrived at during the wee hours of the previous night as I was trying to fall asleep. The answers magically appear early in the morning after the first cup of coffee hits home and I think of how they will sound when I transfer them to someone’s email inbox.
Halfway through lunch, my fingers rest from frenzied writing and my emails are delivered to my clients. Yes, the morning is done and that leaves me with little to do but head out on the land to find something wild to eat. That could take hours or even the rest of the day! That’s okay, it’s like shopping for food and I set aside the rest of the day for outdoor shopping sprees.