people behaving bizarrely

Yesterday was epic for witnessing bizarre behavior. Was there a full moon? Did you notice bizarre behavior, too?

Scene 1: Trotter’s Café (St. Paul), a man and woman seated at four-top in the main window. The area around the table is drafty so she’s wearing his jacket to keep warm. More than sitting close to each other, this woman is practically on the man’s lap. They kiss. They talk in sultry voices. They sing to each other. They deliver lines as if acting in a play. She climbs back in his lap. WTF? I’m not against PDA. In fact, I engage in it with my husband. I think it’s sweet to see couples holding hands and giving a peck on the cheek/lips. But these two? They needed a room.

Scene 2: Lund’s checkout lane #2 (St. Paul). So, I’m in the checkout lane nearest the Express/10 Items or Less lane at Lund’s, with six items in my cart. I have opted not to use the express lane because there are ten people standing in line, each with one or two items. The next lane over is empty; the person who preceded me was paying for his groceries. No brainer. So, I’m minding my own business when a sixty-something woman jumped in line behind me. She had a green bell pepper in her hand, which she waved as she said, “I just have one item.” Uncertain how to respond, I said, “I just have six items.” She persisted waving her hand in an attempt to get the cashier’s attention. Then it was my turn, and the cashier made polite small talk. WTF? Why did this woman think it would be okay to jump the line? I wish I’d asked her that question. If we’re talking about entitlement, I humbly submit that I waited for a shopper with a larger load than mine, and now it’s my turn.

I don't like to dish on friends, but...

Scene 3: Book group (friend’s house): No fewer than five times did I hear my friend M tell people a story, setting it up the same way each time: “My wife and I decided to give our six-year-old [son] an experience, rather than a present, for his birthday.” WTF? “We took him to a Packer’s game at Lambeau Field.” No, M does not have season tickets, nor does any Wisconsin family member, which means that M bought tickets from a broker. Ah, so you spent a small fortune on your son’s birthday present and you want to let everyone know what a cool father you are for springing for $200/person tickets, but you’re self-conscious about spending upward of $1,000 for your son’s present so you call it an experience?

Scene 4: Book group (friend’s house): Another overheard conversation. This time, K is telling us about how amazing her 14-year-old daughter is for diagnosis her medical condition. Yes, K’s daughter told her mother that something was wrong, that she was thirsty all the time, which is a symptom of diabetes. K took her daughter to urgent care; the daughter was hospitalized and tests were run. Sure enough, diabetes was confirmed. Everyone listening to the story said, “Amazing.” One woman said, “It’s treatable.” K said emphatically, “I know. And, she diagnosed herself.” WTF?

It really was. All. Too. Much.