I always wonder if cashiers at grocery stores judge people by what they buy. Seriously, people buy the most random crap! For example, someone *wink wink* bought 2 frozen mac and cheese, 2 bags of mini butterfingers (they were buy one get one free) and toilet paper today. And trust me, that is not the most random or weird combination of things she's ever bought, not by a long shot. I...I mean...she... was still wandering around the store picking up her items and wondering what the cashier was going to think. This girl is lonely, depressed, and has to use the bathroom? Wow, that's a lot of mac and cheese and candy for one girl...etc. But nope, the cashier always just slides the stuff across the scanner, barely even glancing at it with a resigned sort of boredom. I'm always amazed at how nonchalant cashiers can be. If I were one, I'd be studying everything that came down the conveyor, thinking "Now what are they going to do with that?"
As a writer, I think I notice things that no one else does. It's amazing the little details you can file away and use later in your writing. I always look at what the people in line with me are buying. I like looking in peoples windows. Not in a creepy, stalker way, but if I'm passing by and the blinds happen to be open, well, I just want to see if they decorate or if they leave their walls all white and tack up posters. I like looking at peoples key chains. Two keys and nothing else? A bajillion keys and key chains from Disney World and Hawaii? When people open their wallets to pay at work I like to see what's inside. 20 credit cards? Pictures of their kids? Of their cat? Is their money organized? Do they carry a bunch of change? Guys with money clips annoy me. So boring. I love looking at engagement rings. And tattoos. And fingernails. Weirdly shaped ears. Everything. I look at everything.
7 comments:
I love the way you think! You are a writer at heart.
Lol. I do this too. I worry sometimes that people will think I'm a crazy staring freak. :)
Thanks Deb! That is quite the compliment :)
Lindsay, I'm glad I'm not the only one. I'm pretty sure people DO think I'm a crazy staring freak, I haven't learned to be subtle enough not to get caught yet.
I do this too! And I swear I am not obvious about the staring thing but then my husband has to go and point it out and he is obvious!
Renae - The people behind me at the store today were buying sushi and donuts, which I thought was an odd combination. Then again, I was buying 2 cans of pringles and raspberry coffee cake, so maybe they were thinking the same thing about me :)
Too funny. I definitely wonder what the cashier thinks when they run items. I wonder if they have to train to keep a straight face for it all?
Fun post! (found you at Shooting Stars)
I always read people's tee shirts and logos on them like where they work or whatever. It's a good conversation starter and you never know when you need a good flooring guy or air conditioning repairman. I also read signs on trucks and vans. I like to know what businesses are out there. AND, I do the thing with lookign to see what people are buying in the grocery store lines. Three cans of cat food and a bottle of wine? What's your life like, lady?
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