Ok, so this coming Wednesday is the first of the month.  It's also "senior Wednesday" at the Big K.  I'm preparing for what's sure to be the day from hell!  It's the first, so the checks are out.  Senior Wednesday, brings out every senior citizen within 50 miles of Kroger. 

It's gonna be rough, because the holidays are coming as well.  People are stocking up on all the necessities:  Yams, Powdered sugar, ointment, etc. 

All three of those factors will add up to one big chaotic day at the K!  Never before I worked there, did I realize how crazy people become this time of year.  The ladies from the church choir will fight to the death over who gets the last motorized wheelchair.  You think I'm kidding?  People really do cause small riots there this time of the year.  If you've never worked at a grocery store (let alone the big K) you wouldn't understand.  Sure, other businesses get busy, but I swear more people walk thru those doors during the holidays than live in the state of Georgia.  The chance to save 10% off their groceries is more than enough reason to get the entire population of the elderly out and into the store. 

It gets really hard to do your job when you've got a thousand people huddled around you asking you question after question!  "Where is almond paste?"  "do I have to buy 10 to get the 10 for $10 sale price?"  "Where's your restroom?"    "Do you have any more ____ in the back?"  "Why are you out of plain yogurt?"  Well, let me answer all these questions now so I won't have to [as many times] later:   Aisle 3 top shelf, I doubt it, thru the double doors by the dairy and to your right, probably not, and because you already have all our supply in your cart you #$#%#$#! prick!  Oh wait, I'll get fired for saying that to a customer...."you nice lady"

Oh, yeah, I forgot, we get timed on our stocking as well.  I'm sure I won't make any of my times in the weeks and months to come.  I do have a stragety for gettin the work done....wheel my little brown cart into the aisle and run as fast as I can, leaping over people, to safety!

I hate to complain about the holidays and old people, but you really haven't experienced anything, until you see a 105 year old cuss another customer because they want the last tub of cool-whip. 

How should I cope with my fears of this day to come?  Whiskey?  I don't know, but there are gonna be lots of grocery workers needing counseling after what is sure to be a rough day!

So, in closing, if you live within 10 miles of Harrisburg, and you hear some dude scream out bloody murder on Wednesday...it's probably me after a blue-haired old lady ran her wheelchair over my foot on her way to the last box of corn starch!  Please bring ice for my foot....and some for the booze I'll surely need!  (just kidding of course!).

Thanks, GW