THE L.A. FREEWAY & DOLLAR GENERAL

 4454

I stopped by Dollar General today, as I needed some dog and cat food, and flashlight batteries.

I could tell I was in for a long wait at the cash register as soon as I pulled up; since the parking lot was chuck full of vehicles. And while I had the option of driving another block to Dollar Tree, I have always preferred Dollar General.

I got out of my car, walked into the store, grabbed a buggy, and headed back to the dog and cat food section. Now, I retrieved 4 cans for each species, and headed back to the front of the store; (as I surmised the batteries might be found there). As I reached my desired destination, my initial guesstimate proved correct. 

I had never seen such a long line of customers waiting to be checked out. There were easily twenty people in line. 

And now I commented to the man behind me, 

"It looks like the L.A. Freeway!"

And now I asked a nearby customer, "Do you know where the batteries are?"

The man smiled, and said, "Look behind you!"

Turning around I saw a host of brands and sizes of batteries. However, it was soon apparent that the Triple A batteries were near the bottom of the display. And given the line of customers beside me, and how little room I had, it was impossible to face the rack on which the batteries hung, and bend over to retrieve the type I needed. 

I did the only thing I could possibly do in that particular circumstance.

Standing parallel with the long line of men and women, and facing the same direction as they themselves faced, I fell forward, allowed the palms of my hands to lay flat on the floor, kicked my feet back behind me, and ended up in the pushup position. (I could not help mentally congratulating myself). 

"Pretty good for a guy three years away from 80," I thought. 

Funny, I felt perfectly at ease among all these people, (though I expect some of them were surprised with my gymnastics)!

Now, I sat down on the floor in front of the battery rack, and chose a package of Energizer batteries, once again put the palms of my hands on the floor, hopped up, and regained a standing position.

As I stood up, and took my place in line, I happened to look behind me. 

A young boy of 6 or 7 tugged on his mother's hand and exclaimed,

"Mom! Did you see what that old man just did?"

(and)

"He's buying batteries.

(and)

..."Does he think he's the Energizer Bunny?"

by Bill McDonald, PhD