Grocery Cart

Posted on February 17, 2013 by robin swetz

This morning at the grocery store, I ducked into the Women’s Room before digging into my list. And, right there, taking up the majority of the restroom is a shopping cart. A woman had brought it in with her. It was not full of groceries. In fact, it did not have any groceries at all in it. It did, however, have a large purse in the upper compartment, nestled in where children often sit with their legs dangled through the two openings. And, the lady with the large purse was very carefully applying her make-up. She went back for more and more out of her compact, rubbing the powder all over her face. This made sense to me, based on the abundance of bright blue eye shadow and plethora of black eyeliner she was donning.
And, now I understood the shopping cart in the bathroom; to hold her purse. The countertop may not accommodate her bag of tricks, or art supplies. But, the large stainless steel cart would. How convenient, well, convenient for her, anyway. So what I have to carefully maneuver around her and her cart in this small space? Far be it for me to interrupt this artist, as she paints and paints and paints.

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A Gaggle of Girls

Posted on November 12, 2012 by robin swetz

 

There are four of them in all, maybe 15 years old.  They are all perched on the edge of a bench, a bench built for two.  They sit, backs to each other, and talk very quietly.  Then, a man walks towards them, two large books cradled under his arm, fingers curled around the binding.  I can see the front cover of the top book, big letters peaking out from under his forearm: SAT’s.  It all makes sense now.  All four girls get up in unison and follow this man.  A beautiful April Saturday afternoon, spent at the library preparing for the SAT’s.

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Pen Pal

Posted on November 12, 2012 by robin swetz

 

Today I received a special letter.  It was addressed to me by name, written in blue pen in cursive.  I love getting letters.  My mail is most often bills, junk mail (right now quite a bit of political propaganda), sales fliers; you know the drill.  So now, this special letter has arrived.

I excitedly rip the envelope open.  I immediately see what looks to be a newspaper page folded up tucked inside.  I am curious.  I remember a time one of my son’s kindergarten teachers sent me a copy of a picture of my son in the local newspaper.  It was their Pirate Day.  I wonder what this could be.  Now I see a yellow sticky Post-It note stuck to it.  It again calls me by name, same cursive written in blue pen.  It says, “I thought you might enjoy this free book”.  It is signed simply with one cursive letter J.

Now, I am consulting with the husband.  I try to figure out whom this is from.  As I fully open the newspaper page, it hits me.  All of the stories are related: “Wealth Trends”, “True Rags to Riches”, and Info graphic (never heard of this term before) “WHILE THE DOW WAS IN A DIVE, THIS TRADER MADE MILLIONS”.  Wow.  This is good. They even have a heading of “MARKET NEWS” with it identified within section D1.  It also refers to an article that can be found within section D-4; “Trending- Making the Case for Gold”.  Next is a Reader Poll entitled “What tools do you use to follow Market Trends, Software or Internet?”  This information can be found on page D-6.  These are fake sections, just like a real newspaper.  I can see they took some time on this.  This actually adds tremendously to the authenticity. So much so that I still have a very very small part of me wondering of there is actually a “J” that sent this to me.  This is such a curious sales method. My curiosity is piqued.  My curiosity about the book?  Well, about that.  I have no idea about its title or how to go about getting it. I was so enamored with the big fake out, I never got to that.

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The Backer-Inner

Posted on November 12, 2012 by robin swetz

 

 

I just witnessed one of my pet peeves. The backer-inner. Yes, at the soccer field.  She was the one with 5 minivans behind her, as she attempted to back into her parking space.  The parade of drivers watched expectantly, as she continued to hit her brake intermittently.  Understandably, there were children all over the parking lot.  This required her to carefully avoid them.  But, that did not interfere with her commitment to back in.  Absolutely not.

Okay, now she is in the space.  But, wait.  She is not straight.  So, she starts to pull out to try again.  But, the other mini-van drivers take a stand.  They will not allow it.  They march , well, drive forward past her and pull into their spaces quickly. The children then spill out of all of their vans and run towards the soccer fields.  The backer-inner?  Well, she pulls out and takes two more tries at it.   Finally, she has backed in.

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Risk Taker

Posted on November 12, 2012 by robin swetz

Today at the second hand shop, I met a risk-taker.  Yes, the customer before me in line.  She was purchasing 4 puzzles.  All 4 puzzles had elastic bands across them to keep the boxes closed.  Now, that is a risk.  You make a commitment to fit every last puzzle piece together.  But, what if, just what if all the pieces are not there?

My colleague and friend at work is a risk taker. Yes, she purchases clothing without trying any items on.  Now, that is a calculated risk.  She does her best estimate based on size.  But, there are so many things that can go wrong.  She may not like the style on her, the fit in certain areas, the length.  What looks one way on the hanger or on the mannequin, merchandised with accessories like jewelry, scarves, even a hat, may not translate the same at home on you in front of your mirror.

But, my friend from work, she has it down to a science.  She is committed.  She is very good about keeping track of time frames and receipts.  She tries on all new purchase within two to three days of bringing them home, and makes the keep or return decision promptly.  This method would not work for me, I suspect.  I worry I might put them to the side and then be stuck with the whole lot, having waited too long to return them, or having lost the receipt.  To much effort after having left the store.  No, I prefer putting the effort in prior to the purchase. That is not a risk I am willing to take, not even a calculated risk.

There are risk takers everywhere.  Nothing to gain without taking a risk!

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Don’t Feed the Outfielders

Posted on November 12, 2012 by robin swetz

 

 

I am walking to my son’s field for his Saturday baseball game, fifth of the season. I spot a little boy on the outside of the fence dropping sunflower seeds into a very small hand pushed and squeezed through the galvanized metal fence.  The little hand, full of sunflower seeds, closes around the seeds and tries to get back through the fence opening.  One of his coaches is waving him in from the outfield, as the rest of his team runs into the dugout.  They are up to bat.  Poor little guy.  He’s stuck in the fence.  And all for a handful of sunflower seeds.  Eventually, the coach comes out to see what the hold up is.  The coach lets a smile slip out as he gets closer  and sees the situation. Then, he rescues the boy.

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Waiting Room

Posted on November 12, 2012 by robin swetz

     As I wait at the doctor’s office, I am met with a large sign that announces “CELL PHONES INTERFERE WITH OUR EQUIPMENT. Please, no cell phone use while in the office.  Thank you for your cooperation.”  I am forced to instead sit and look around.

     I spot a woman two seats over from me.  She is reading a book on her I-Pad.  What caught my eye about her is her shoes.  They in fact are different colors.  One is purple with black swirls and polka dots with green trim.  The other is tan with black polka dots, purple trim on the toe only.  They are completely asymmetrical.  My eyes keep going to them, to their imbalance.  They are very different than the other woman’s shoes across the waiting room, pale rose color with matching flower decorations on the top, neatly atop pantyhose covered feet, nicely matching her plaid pastel skirt and Spring coat, a vintage look really. Funny thing she does, she keeps lifting both of her feet up at the same time and looking at her shoes, legs stretched straight out.  Now they are flat on the worn blue carpet of the waiting room, as the doctor comes to the door and calls “ Joan”.  She is up in an instant, hand extended to shake the hand of the doctor standing in the doorway. 

            Now, an older gentlemen walks in.  I count eleven other available chairs as he sits right next to me.  I am vaguely irritated by his proximity.  I mind as well take a look at his shoes.  They are black slip- ons, and they look comfortable.  He wears brown thick looking socks underneath, with faded jeans laying on top.  Now, the coughing begins. He brushes against me as he reaches past me for a tissue on the table next to me.  Politely, he says, “Excuse me”, as he does so. 

            Now, the three of us are nestled together in the corner of the room; the woman two seats over and man right next to me.  I recount the empty seats. Yes, it is eleven, eleven seats available in this good size waiting room.  And here we are all together.   I have a twinge of claustrophobia. I wish I could immerse myself in my multiple distractions on my I-Phone: e-mail, texts, Facebook, drawing game, my photo album, Internet surfing.  Maybe some other people will come in and I can distract myself with their shoes.

     Just then, my doctor appears in the doorway and calls my name. I am rescued.   

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Honored Guest

Posted on October 27, 2012 by robin swetz

 

Today, something very interesting happened. I was attending a training, and the last person arrived to find there were no chairs left for her.  One of the other seated participants signaled to the presenter that there in fact was a seat next to her. She then called the presenter over and whispered something to him. He then brought another chair over and arranged it behind her, to the side a bit. My interest was piqued.

Then, I saw it. The Louis Vuitton rose up from the chair next to her, carefully and ceremoniously lifted and guided to its new chair behind her.

LV was the quietest participant at the training. I initially misunderstood, and called the quiet participant by the wrong name: Coach. I was quickly corrected, as she introduced me to Louis. Perhaps I should say, Mr. Vuitton.

LV is a large bag, dark brown in color with tan LV’s all over him. He has a unique handle that seems like it would be very comfortable to hold.

Louis sat quietly in his chair the entire time.  I looked back at him a few times, interested in this culture that I have yet to even so much as dip a toe into. I know admittedly very few women in the EPC (Exclusive Purse Club). But, here, today, I am in the same room with an LV, and he is right behind me.  I do believe this is the first time I have actually laid eyes on an LV. She shares that he has never touched the ground.  Just like my 8 and 6-year-old boys when they were babies!!  Neither one of them touched the ground for the first 6 months of their lives. They were in our arms, literally.  My heart warms as I think of this, not just my boys as babies, but that we have a connecting point here.  LV is well cared for, maybe even loved. That is one lucky LV.

So, for now, I observe the EPC (Exclusive Purse Club) as an outsider.  Today, I had a peek into the depth and meaning of this culture, and I had a peek at an LV.  I just wish that I went in for a touch, too.

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Car Pilot

Posted on September 15, 2012 by robin swetz

Today on the ride into work I saw a young man on a bicycle holding a Dunkin Donuts coffee in one hand, taking sips as he kept pedaling along. This reminds me of the time I saw a man on the highway talking on his cell phone while driving on his motorcycle, one handed.
I have been known to multitask as I drive. I have become accustomed to my multitasking behind the wheel. I manage climate control. This is an active responsibility the entire trip. I am repositioning the vents,  adjusting back and forth from hot to cold, diverting the vents to the different options: all at me straight out, or all defrost at the windshield, or all at your feet, or a combination windshield and feet. This is where the majority of my time and attention is spent. I have always had temperature control issues, and developing the perfect climate within my vehicle always presents a challenge. Another responsibility as I drive, continuously adjusting the sound system, both music selection and volume.  Also, I must divert power from the main generator when accelerating up hill (ie, I turn off the air conditioner to get up hills faster or to merge onto the highway).   I provide food and entertainment to guests, namely my children.  I mediate disputes, again, namely my children.  I complete general maintenance and clean up, most often refuse collection, including separating the recyclables as well as dusting with a non-aloe based baby wipe. All of these things are done as I  drive. There are times I feel like a pilot, managing various controls while I move forward in time and space.
Maybe I shouldn’t be looking at the motorcycler on the cellphone or the man on the bicycle sipping his coffee as he rides along.  I’m thinking I might not be that focused myself, as I pilot my car.

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Freeze Pop Wrapper Stuck in the Fence

Posted on September 15, 2012 by robin swetz

An interesting sight has caught my eye, a freeze pop wrapper stuck in a fence. It was clearly purposefully put there, after it was enjoyed on a hot summer day. The individual discarding it seems to be somewhat concerned about littering, as they took the time to weave it through the slat in the fence. But, they were not willing or able to fully dispose of the freeze pop wrapper. Perhaps they did not have ready access to a trash receptacle. And, their level of commitment did not allow them to risk spilling any of the sticky residue left behind in the wrapper from the melted ice, now a puddle of brightly colored sugar-water.
I smile to myself. A summer sight. I can almost hear this responsible citizen, perhaps a child, laughing in the summer air, talking between slurps of the colored sugar water. And, when this carefree child finishes their summer treat, they, with a certain level of responsibility, carefully tuck the wrapper into the slat in the fence. I am left hopeful that the youth of our world in fact can handle the multiple responsibilities ahead of them.

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