Day 90; Footnotes of, Oh No He Didn’t

They were calling for the potential of bad storms here. All I could think at first was, not again. But I knew what I had to do.

Approximately an hour before noon, I had gotten ready, brought the dogs inside and headed out. I wasn’t in a hurry, which was a good thing because I managed to get behind a car that was in less of a hurry than I was. I finally made it to my destination of one of the local handy dandy home and garden centers. Parking my Jeep I started across the parking lot. A gentleman who had a flat bed cart and a lumber cart was headed for the corral for them when I told him I would take the flat bed. He looked a bit surprised but gladly released it to me.

I was there for cement blocks, I would need it. I thought. I got inside and made my way to the aisle where the blocks were located. One of the men working there asked if he could help me. I told him I was looking at the cement blocks. I saw the ones I wanted and told him. He asked how many I wanted and I told him twelve. He then told me that I could go pay for them, that they were outside and he could load them into my car out there. Okay. 

I go to stand in line, which was odd because there were carts there, but no people. When the lady running the register finished with the current customer she looked as confused as I did. I finally told her what I wanted and she was going to send me to see the guy who just sent me to her. We finally got the blocks paid for, I went to move my Jeep to where he had told me. As he walked out, he asked if I had bought eight, nope, twelve. So he asked me to move the Jeep to where I was backed up next to the blocks. I was also part way out in the roadway but I’m sure this was not unusual.

He loaded the blocks for me. As he did, he asked why I needed so many. I told him my yard sloped down toward the house and I was going to build a wall. He then asked me, “Are you, going to build it?” I didn’t hesitate but responded with, “Country girls can.” I refused to acknowledge that he may have been concerned over my gender and or age. Besides, the wall is nothing more than lining the silly things up, end to end, across the yard to redirect the water flow. And yes, I got it done. 

I also went to the big box store while I was out and purchased more eggs. Since I managed to break all but three of what I bought yesterday and remembered the coffee filters I needed. I was able to get all of the eggs home safely today.

 It has rained most of the day today, but not the down pouring, frog strangling, rain that threatens to wash everything away. Just a steady rain that kept me indoors and staring out the window in a daydream. I didn’t see the friendly cat today. I did see the other two though. I’m hoping he will show up tomorrow all nice and hungry.

But, back to the guy at the store. Now, whether he did or didn’t or didn’t mean to but did judge me, it isn’t the first time, won’t be the last. But if we were honest, don’t we all do it from time to time? We see someone and immediately form an opinion. We don’t know them, may never meet them, only see them the one time but have already decided what type person they are. Whether it is age, skin tone, hair color, tattoos,piercings or the clothing they are wearing. Maybe it is the way they speak.

Maybe the guy was merely surprised and not passing judgement after all. That happens as well. But I am determined to do what I can, when and as I can, while I can. And if I get judged for that…so be it.

Country girl landscaping at its finest