I felt like I was having an out-of-body experience. Was the checkout lady at my local Walgreens for real or had she been typecast for a B movie as "The Stereotypical Bored Texas Cashier?"
She had it all: the big hair, the blue eyeshadow, the lipliner...and the smacking gum-chewing. Oh, she was perfect for the part alright. But it was the WAY she smacked her gum that was so curious, I forgot to put my things on the counter. With each chew on the Wriggley's she sucked in her cheeks, pursed her lips and then opened her mouth to reveal the minty green gum before repeating the process. SLOWLY. One chew per second, max.
"Dja lack ta trah th' neuw Paaay Daaay?" she drawled. Smack. Smack. Eyes half closed as she reached for my items to scan.
"I'm sorry. What did you say?" I didn't understand a single word.
"Wood. dja. lack. ta. trah. th' neuw Paaay Daaay?" With that she tilted her head with its enormous 'do toward the candy display on the counter. Smack. Smack.
"OH! Would I like to try the candy bars!" I could see that Pay Day had come out with some new flavor. "No. No thank you." I reached for my money but could hardly tear my eyes from her chewing pattern.
She let out a sigh and I think she even rolled her eyes, as if to say, "Suit yerself. Ah trah'd."
I'm sure some mandate had come down from Walgreen's management that forced their cashiers to try and upsell candy bars to each customer. I wouldn't have been surprised to see a note taped to the register saying "SELL THE CANDY. SELL THE CANDY."
But just saying the lines doesn't actually sell the candy. My hairsprayed cashier was so underwhelming and uninterested in the Pay Days that I'll bet no one else bought any either. I chuckled to myself as I walked out the door, and then stopped laughing when realized how much like little Miss Texas in there I am sometimes.
Bored. Uninterested. Uninspired. Going through the motions. Watching the clock. Smacking my gum.
I don't want to be like that.
I want to be enthusiastic about even the mundane things in life. I want to have a spark in me that is contageous and uplifting. I want to have a little spring in my step for no reason, and a ready smile because you never know when someone's going to need one. I want to be engaged in the moment. Positive and cheerful. I want to spit out my gum.
Lord, have mercy, I want to be able to SELL THE CANDY.
