Sub-life x
I love the older generation – I’m sure it’s a genetic trait passed down from my Grandmother who collected them like a matriarchal mother hen. In her eighties she’d regularly drive (rarely getting out of second gear) other people to their adult learning classes, ‘So-and-so is in their nineties’, she’d say, incredulously, ‘And still independent!’
I don’t even avoid them in supermarket queues..like the other day when in an attempt to squeeze a few extra, precious seconds of the day I tried to do a lightening supermarket run just before school pick-up. Except the magic elongating of time never happened so by the time I reached the check-out with my full basket of stuff I hadn’t realised I’d needed it was already the witching hour of 3.15 (pick-up)…and I was third in the queue….bad, very bad. The elderly lady at the front was finishing up her purchases, bags packed, money paid which was great..except just as I thought she was all done she produced, like something from the Hobbit, this enormous, bulging plastic bag of loose change..I literally felt a hand of horror clasp my now heaving throat. She did have the grace to turn to all of us..
‘Would you mind dreadfully if I got this changed here?’
I gulped, I never, ever, EVER make a fuss…but..it wasn’t just Charlie I was due to pick up..it was his friend as well..so even with the ghost of my Grandmother wagging her finger at me…
‘I’m so sorry’ I piped up..’I’m already late for school pick-up..and I’m sure there’s a change machine round the corner at the far end?’…
‘Oh no. I tried there. It’s out of order.’
‘I’m so sorry..it’s my son and his friend..they’re only four..and in reception..and I’m already late….’
‘Oh well..you see..it’s my husband. He’s just died and this is all the change from his pockets.’
The lino floor opened up and dragged me down to hell…
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 
Don’t feel too bad. She’s probably used that story before….I would!! Xx
Do you think?? NO NO! You’re shattering all my pre-conceptions..Grandma is back and wagging her finger!!! xxxxx
Old ladies have much wisdom and the balls to use their supposed frailty to their advantage…..I am looking forward to that!! Xx
I’m scared already!! x
Oh no, what an embarrassing situ! The other day in Waitrose a man approached me in the queue for the till & asked if a homeless man could go ahead of me as he only had only one item. Of course I said yes but then the man asked if he himself could also push ahead of me! I told him to wait in line…
LOL! Wait in line..don’t cross it! There’s a limit.. xxx
She played you Kate. If she meant it when she asked if anyone minded she would have yielded when you piped up. I bet her husband was home waiting for her
You know what..I hope so. I would like to know what he lined his pockets with to contain that amount of change..oh no..terrible thought..maybe she was homeless and this was the result of begging on the street?? One story..a thousand endings…
Wow! You guys are cynical! I am thinking that she was lonely and just was looking for a bit of attention. Her timing was bad.
My favorite is seeing older Ladies on the street, dressed to the nines with leopard tights. Gives me the warm and fuzzies for my future.
Hear, hear! She wasn’t to know I had taken that moment to fail miserably as a mother..served me right for flying to close to the line! x
Oh dear, poor you. I’ve noticed even my mom gets less reasonable as she grows old which I find it rather shame… X
But I think they’re allowed too? I want to be feisty, dramatic and sneak my grandchildren chocolates when my unreasonable daughter-in-law has banned sugar! x
Down to Dante’s “Inferno” then ! xxxx
Straight down, burning all the way…
LOL! I also think she’s used that story a couple of times. Old people sometimes such manipulators. Just like our little ones….. 🙂
No no no no!!! She was a little old lady..I’m the city chick from the (relatively) big bad smoke..I’m meant to be the cynic! xxxx
Yoicks! I think she should have let you go first regardless. You had little ones and she could have waited. She certainly shouldn’t have brought up her husbands death-it’s not polite to make people uncomfortable and what does THAT have to do with letting someone go ahead of you. Anyway, I think the cashier should have stepped forward to say “I’d be happy to help you, just let me get these people on their way.” humph….
Ach..she had no idea I was trying to be in two places at once..she trumped me fair and square. The guy in front of me then did offer to let me go first..but I was too mortified by then to accept..I did get to the boys, running all the way and knocking down the population of SW London in my wake before they were herded to the school office (ultimate humiliation..happened to Charlie on his second day of school!) xxx
Yep, she was playing you like a fiddle. I know because I already employ the wily ways of an octogenarian and life’s a breeze! 😉
Two thumbs up for her balls of steel..But..say it was true??
OMG–everyone else thinks she was scamming you? I just assumed it was true about her husband. I try to be really kind to the elderly. I’ll be there myself soon enough . . .
Stands up and claps loudly!
Actually when my mum died I found little piles of coins all over the house, which I transferred to a big carrier bag and used in shops for the rest of the week. Once when a woman behind tutted I told her ‘well my mum just died and this is her money’. I can’t say she looked to sympathetic.
Y’see..it does happen!
It’s all too easy to focus on the moment in hand and not see the bigger picture. Death is the trump card and I’ll never argue with it..instead I would’ve quite like to have invited her home to tea..
Amazing pic!