Shokufeh is... home

Shopping

Near my office, there are shops that I frequently pass but never enter. This week, I went to two of them.

In one, I bought a lovely tea – Harney & Sons Chocolate Mint. I’m not generally a fan of flavored teas, but this one’s yummy. (Tea lovers, check it out, if you haven’t already.)

In the other, I bought nothing, but was entertained by the salesperson. She was the hovering type, the ones that make me want to run out of the store, screaming. So even though she raised my blood pressure, she was able to provide some giggling material:

1) She kept referring to their “software” The woman she was addressing was apparently as confused as I was, considering we were in a shop with things like clothing, soaps, candles, and various decorative items. The costumer finally asked her if it was the soft knit material of the clothes that made her use the word in that context.

2) She spotted and commented on my earrings. I usually wear gold studs in the three holes in my left lobe. Today, I happened to be wearing an assortment of earrings, including a fly earring and a frog earring. I think it an amusing combination. But she did not take note of my cleverness – instead she said, “Oh... your earrings... they look like maybe they hurt.... But, I guess they don't?” I could tell she wanted to say more, like maybe she was concerned that part of my ear was in danger of falling off. But she was trying to be tactful. I’d say she failed in that. I, however, was the perfect Southern lady, replying with a balance of sarcasm and politeness, "No, they don't." It's true - it's not what you say, it's how you say it.

I’d say she needs to get out more.
Maybe tomorrow I should go in wearing my outhouse earring, with the guy that flips off the toilet.

Posted by Shokufeh at October 9, 2003 03:40 PM