Ethyl and Gladys Do Wal-Mart

I saw the epitome of the statement "Getting old ain't for sissies," tonight in Perry. Apparently to reach 70 in Perry you have to be pretty tough and self-sufficient.

I was in the Wal-Mart in Perry and I saw two seventy-something year old ladies (we'll call them Ethyl and Gladys) standing by a metal non-supported case in the middle of the aisle. The next thing I see is Gladys (or Ethyl) starting to climb the case to get to the stop shelf. I yell as I briskly walk toward them, "Can I help you?" Gladys steps down from the first shelf as Ethyl says "Yes, can you get us that thing of pineapple?" I stretch to reach up and secure the pineapple. I grab two so they don't start climbing again when I leave.

I may have saved two ladies from badly broken bones but about an hour later I realized they had a couple of tubs of preserved cherries already in their carts. Pineapples? Cherries? Yikes! I had just contributed to the birth of a fruitcake!

Next time I do something like that I want to fully seal the deal and bring over a pack of cut and bake chocolate chip cookies and say, "These are what those crazy kids are eating for the holidays these days!" Some grandkid will thank me someday.

A Wal-Mart Employee Was Trampled To Death On Black Friday.

A Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death by shoppers as he unlocked the doors of for shoppers the morning of Black Fridays. Other employees were hurt as they tried to help the employee. Other shoppers including a pregnant woman were taken to the hospital.

People! Get a hold of yourselves! Shoppers complained when the police had to shut the store down to complete the investigation because somebody died!

Wow! I'm a big fan of Black Friday. I think it's fun. I think it's a cool tradition. I think it combines two great American traits, capitalism and competition. This is a horrid example of what can happen when these two items are taken to their extremes.

It is also an example of what can happen when people get caught up in a pack mentality. People who wouldn't dare act rudely or aggressively on their own go wild when they are in a group that is stirred up.

Sad. Nothing funny here. Prayers go out to this man and his family. The blackest of Fridays indeed for this man's family every year.

Life Lesson #1: Capitalism, competition are fine in balance with compassion and cooperation.
Life Lesson #2: Be aware of the pack you travel in and check yourself out of the group if you are
not comfortable with their intensity or intentions.