CHECKING OUT

In a past blog I mentioned about my first job had been cashiering in a grocery store.  Things sure have changed since my day of standing at the register tallying up the cost of the order and punching in coupons for money off on items.

When I first learned to run a register this is how it went.  Tally up the purchase, the register gives you the amount; you tell the customer the amount and they hand you the money but if they gave you more than the purchased amount, you had to calculate the amount of change to hand back in your head.  No calculator to assist you, no pen and paper to write upon.  Back then there was no putting the amount into the register to have the machine tell you the amount to return to the customer.  One had to be pretty good at math to figure this stuff out in their heads.  Glad I was half decent at math back then. 

Today the cashier swipes your item over the scanner, no punching in the amount on the register keys.  Most people now pay with a debit type card so hardly any money changes hand; if money does change hand the register will give you the amount of change to give back.

Sometimes the scanner is temperamental and it might take two or three swipes for your item to register.  In that amount of time I could have punched in three items on the register.  Technology is great and I am all for change.  I recall a few years back where a few stores had an aisle where you could check out the purchase yourself.  I don’t know if they are still around as I don’t use them. 

 I know that cashiers have a hard job.  Besides tallying up the order, they have to bag it, deal with coupon issues, sale item problems and of course the person who decides to write a check at the last minute.  I have a lot of respect for the cashier believe me.  They stand all day on their feet being nice to sometimes miserable people.  One store I frequent have the cashiers sitting on a stool; of course this store is one where you bring your own bags.  I only wish more stores would go that way to make the job easier.

Of course another issue for the cashiers are the cards some stores give out for getting discounts on items or for points towards other purchases.  I have one key ring designated just for this purpose.  Cashier have to ask if you have a card for their store before scanning up the purchases.  What I have a problem with is those customers who do not have their card ready when they get into the check-out line.  Now they know they will be asked if they have one, so why not have it ready.  Looking for it in the purse or a wallet holds up the line for those who might be in a hurry to leave the store.

Cashiers are the unsung heroes of the stores we all shop at.  Of course let’s not forget the stock personnel who keep the shelves full of our favorite items as well as those who have to go out in the cold, rain, snow and heat of summer to bring in the shopping carts left in the parking lot.

Until next time….I am off to the stores.  Need to make sure I have my store card key ring in my pocket, my debit card handy and my pin number correctly memorized in my brain.  Hope the scanners are working today. 

Memorial Day Ramblings

In another week Memorial Day will be here.  I’ve always considered this day my official beginning of the summer although summer begins in June.  One reason could be that the weather is usually warm and people tend to have cook-outs and picnics.  Also don’t many begin to wear the color white that day?  Personally I never paid mind to when one could wear white or not wear the color.  My opinion… just wear the shades you want; don’t give into what the rest of society dictates.

I remember when Memorial Day was called Decoration Day and observed on May thirtieth.  According to Wikipedia, in 1967 the day changed to Memorial Day which is now observed on the last Monday in May. 

As a veteran I celebrate by attending services at one of the veteran’s organizations.  Years ago, while living in Pennsylvania, I would read one of my original poems I composed just for that day. 

While reading through Wikipedia’s information, I found the following:

Memorial Day is not to be confused with Veterans Day; Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving, while Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, living or dead

  I sort of disagree but then that is my opinion.  Yes we do honor those who served with honor and pride and died while serving their country; but I also reflect upon those who returned home and have passed on to their final rest.  On Veteran’s Day I reflect and honor those veteran’s who are still among us; and those who are currently serving in the military who will one day be called ‘veteran’. 

Most people only see Memorial Day as a three day weekend; while many will attend some sort of service in their community.

No matter what you do, I always encourage people to take a brief moment to remember those individuals who now rest under grassy covered mounds; attend some type of observance in your community.  It only takes a hour out of your weekend. 

Until next time….put out your flag, find a Memorial Day service to attend and have a moment of silence for those who served our nation with pride, honor and courage.

. MEMORIAL DAY REFLECTIONS

(For American Post 69, Avon Park, Florida where this poem had been composed on Memorial Day 2012)

©Scottie-ann Murphy

Today we stand with bowed heads and heavy hearts

   as the bugler sounds “Taps”

Paying tribute and honor to those who have gone

   to their final rest

Dedicated to our country, our flag and our beliefs

They served with pride on foreign soils,

   in the skies and upon the waters

In battle they met the foe without hesitation

Some never knew how their fight ended

One day a year….only one day….

   we remember with respect those who ‘gave their all’

     that today we may enjoy the freedom we have

As we stand for just a brief moment of silence

    we all should remember that the price of liberty

       does not come free

No price tag hangs with a bar code

  from the men and women who served and are

    serving our country

MOTHER'S DAY

Mother’s Day has arrived.  The day put aside to honor that woman who for nine months carried us in her womb and gave us life.

What can one say to such a person?  Is ‘thank you’ enough?  Words don’t come easy and gestures even harder.

I remember when I was in grade school, our class made cards for our moms as an art project.  Although when I presented it to her, I don’t think she put it on the refrigerator to show the world or even display it on the coffee table with the store bought cards given by my step-siblings.  This remained a mystery but she did say thank-you.

Like Valentine’s Day I found the stores to be over stocked with bouquets, floral arrangements and plants to give mom.  Restaurants will be packed with families taking mom out for a meal.  I received interesting information via my email in-box.  Many places are having bring mom in for a meal specials. Television commercials advertise deals at department stores to pick out the perfect gift.  Jewelry stores promoting items that are sure to make mom happy. 

Although I am only someone’s step-mom, I recall what made my mom happy on Mother’s Day.  All she wanted was a big hug and the words ‘thank you for all you do for us’.  You see my mother worked each day helping to bring in an income to provide for us.  Since age seven I had been raised by a step-grandmother.  My mother seemed to miss out on a lot of stuff in my life. This I think was her sacrifice; ensuring that my step-siblings and I had a roof over our heads, food on the table, clothes to wear on our backs and shoes to have on our feet.  It took me years to finally come to this conclusion.  Back in the late fifties into the sixties many women stayed home.  Today it is necessary for women to work for their families to survive. 

Mothers deserve more than one day a year to be celebrated for all they do and have done for us.  Wondering what to do for your mom this year for Mother’s Day?  Well just give her a big hug, say “thanks for all you do” then ask where she’d like to go for dinner.

Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms. 

Until next time…...if you’re interested in how Mother’s Day came about just Google ….you’ll learn something interesting as I did.

SHOPPING CAN BE AN UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE

One of my first paying jobs that took out taxes and social security had been in a grocery store.  I was still in high school at the time.  Believe me being a checker/cashier back then not like in today’s world, but this will be a future blog.

One thing I recall is how the stock boys would have to go out into the parking lot to retrieve the shopping carts left helter-skelter by the customers.  People, then and now, leave their shopping carts helter-skelter around the parking lot.  Today I could not get into three different parking spots because shopping carts took up the spaces. 

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Many of the stores have two, three and sometimes four areas to place the cart in the parking lot.  Still people are still too lazy to place the carts into the designated area.  This is one of my biggest pet peeves.  It makes me understand why one store actually makes you pay a quarter to use the cart. 

Not sure about you, but I like this idea.  You put a quarter into a slot, take the care inside the store to do your shopping, then after you are done with the cart you put it back to get the quarter.  I carry a quarter in my car at all times just for this purpose. 

When I lived in Pennsylvania we had such a place.  A few years ago this chain of stores came to Florida.  How happy I was to see them here in the Sunshine State.

One of the best stories about the opening of this store here in Florida had to be the couple who refused to put in their quarter for the cart.  The wife told the husband that she felt she should not have to pay to use a cart to shop.  I explained she’ll get the quarter back, but she glared at me like I had two heads.  I heard her tell her husband we’ll just get a hand basket inside.  I did not have the heart to tell her they had no carry baskets. Well the husband ended up carrying their items around the store like a pack mule.  They happen to get into the check out line behind me and she had the nerve to ask if she could go ahead of me as they had so much stuff they could barely hold on to it.  I smiled and said NO. Now I am not a mean person but if you are too cheap to put in a quarter for a cart you can stand there and wait your turn.

So today at the grocery store, I finally found a parking spot and did my shopping.  I returned the cart to the designated area which was only three spots from where I parked.  The lazy individual next to me left their cart in the empty spot next to their car.  There could be a new career as grocery store parking lot police.  Drive around in a golf cart fining people who don’t return their shopping cart to the designated area.

Until next time…please return your cart to the designated area so the cart police don’t fine you.