Working at a health food store, I'm never at a lack for entertainment. The general public is always quite amusing. I strongly feel that the people who shop at health food stores are a special breed of "general public". I hear all kinds of questions from "Do you have Horny Goat Weed? Will this give me an erection?" on the telephone to "So, this will get rid of the odor, down there? Don't you smell it?" as one woman asked while walking out the door. People want to know how to cure arthritis, eat lots of cookies with diabetes, and lose weight without exercise. I'm not complaining, it amuses me a great deal. I also really dig enlightenment, you know.
A personal favorite scenario is when someone comes in with a list of supplements they most likely googled in a moment of health paranoia. Or worse, they saw it on 20/20, read about it in the advocate, or ::gasp:: saw it on Oprah. She just looks so, healthy, you know. Dr. Oz said it, woo!! They'll ask a list of questions, about a list of substances, and then at the end, ask about what they were asking about, in the first place. For example, someone inquires about inflammation, I give information on treatments, then they say "So, just what is inflammation?" Seriously? Google it? Sometimes I just don't know what to say.
I dig what I do though! I really love to ask people if they need help in the store, because I know that I am making a difference. Also, I know the more I talk to people, the more people in the store will literally line up to ask me their own list of questions. This frees me from having to listen to my boss talk, making my brain ache and my ears bleed. There is no herbal remedy for that problem, I'm afraid. Avoidance is the best symptom prevention! haha
Seriously, I feel that the more people I help, the more lives I can possibly change, the more lives they will possibly change, thus, making the world a better place. Knowledge is power. Also, I really do looove the random crazies. It's also great experience because I can learn new things everyday. I learn about new products and peoples experiences with products. In short, it's educational, fun, and amusing. You never know what you're gonna get. I get to spread the gospel of health to everyone, and that's awesome!
So speaking of gospel, today, this older lady came into the store. She was wearing a blue head bandanna and overalls. Honestly, she didn't look very well balanced and her skin was a disaster. She came to my cash register, so, I checked her out. I didn't think anything of it, just another customer.. Right? "How are you doing today? Is this all for you?"
Wrong. No response. Silence. Alrighty then.
She grabbed onto the side of my hand when I handed the change to her. Then, she said with a convicted passion "The day of reckoning is upon us!!! Repent!! Be saved! The lord cometh any day!"
Then she turned around and walked out the door at a rapid pace, with her Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar in tow. "Okay, thank you" I said to her in astonishment.
It was, unexpected. I mean, sure, questions about erections and arthritis are not a surprise. But, The day of reckoning? I mean, she could have at least told me more.. What if I hadn't been raised in a borderline fundamentalist Christian church? I would have never known what she meant! Shame on her for just leaving me hanging like that. Note to self, Google, "Day of reckoning" and also "Strike fear/guilt into peoples hearts/minds for use as brainwashing technique".
About an hour later another older woman, who was somewhat rude, distant, and refused to make eye contact with me came to my register. "How are you today?" I asked with a smile.. I'm always as nice as possible, especially to the grouchy old women. Yes, I enjoy it. Well, she either didn't hear my question (possible) or ignored me (more likely). When we finished our transaction she slid to me a tract that said "Will you be left behind after the rapture!? Repent and be saved!" and it had Jesus riding a horse on it and people flailing all over dressed in white robes. Then, her piercing eyes darted at mine, and she walked quickly out the door. Actually the tract art was pretty cool. Very old-school-wood-block-prin
At this point I started to wonder various things..
Do I look like a heathen today? I was wearing a white v-neck t-shirt, light wash skinny jeans, and brown ankle boots. My hair was down and I was wearing my glasses and a little make up. Not exactly an old slayer t-shirt and a pentagram belt buckle.
Was there a revival at the church down the street? It happens a lot, so it's a possibility.
Is there a grouchy-old-women-who-are-
Do I have "666" written on my forehead in Sharpie Marker? I can't possibly, Carlos is off today, because it's his birthday, and he's the only person who would do that..
What if I actually DID attend their church, but they were so unmindful, selfish, and unfriendly they never noticed me? Could happen, if I did..
What if they are experiencing psychosis/paranoia/delusio
A brilliant coworker of mine, asked me what I said in response, not much, was my answer. She said she would have made strong mention, No thank you to their propaganda spreading. I wish I had the courage or at least just thought to say something like that. That would have been awesome. Really, the only thing I could do was smile and say "Oookaaay then.. thank you." May be next time I'll think of something better, if they don't run out the door so quickly.
I do understand this phenomenon though. Growing up it surrounded me like a force unknown and beyond understanding to people who have not experienced it. Pressuring me to repent every Wednesday morning at school, Wednesday night and Sunday morning at church, and various times in between, when I was never good enough for Jesus. Using guilt as a mechanism in avoiding, at all possible costs, going to hell. It built a lot of character in me at a young age. I learned to seek the truth in peoples actions, an ability I still to this day, greatly value in myself.
The old ladies today were just keeping it real and reminding me of where I've come from, so, thanks old ladies, for that. May be next time I'll ask them about Jesus and his kindness and love, something I didn't really pick up from them as they ran out the door.
I guess I looked like a heathen today. My peace sign necklace could be a broken cross, a sign of the devil! My genuine smile, a tool of the dark lords deception. My servitude, a sure symptom of an occult follower. Yep, I have "Dark Follower Lucifer" written all over me. May be Friday they will come in and cast the demons out of me.. If you believe in that sort of thing...
Meanwhile, I'll be answering phone calls about Horny Goat Weed and talking to other old women, who are slightly more friendly, about Revesterol. Dr. Oz talked about it on Oprah.. It reverses aging you know!!! Yay, Oprah!
A personal favorite scenario is when someone comes in with a list of supplements they most likely googled in a moment of health paranoia. Or worse, they saw it on 20/20, read about it in the advocate, or ::gasp:: saw it on Oprah. She just looks so, healthy, you know. Dr. Oz said it, woo!! They'll ask a list of questions, about a list of substances, and then at the end, ask about what they were asking about, in the first place. For example, someone inquires about inflammation, I give information on treatments, then they say "So, just what is inflammation?" Seriously? Google it? Sometimes I just don't know what to say.
I dig what I do though! I really love to ask people if they need help in the store, because I know that I am making a difference. Also, I know the more I talk to people, the more people in the store will literally line up to ask me their own list of questions. This frees me from having to listen to my boss talk, making my brain ache and my ears bleed. There is no herbal remedy for that problem, I'm afraid. Avoidance is the best symptom prevention! haha
Seriously, I feel that the more people I help, the more lives I can possibly change, the more lives they will possibly change, thus, making the world a better place. Knowledge is power. Also, I really do looove the random crazies. It's also great experience because I can learn new things everyday. I learn about new products and peoples experiences with products. In short, it's educational, fun, and amusing. You never know what you're gonna get. I get to spread the gospel of health to everyone, and that's awesome!
So speaking of gospel, today, this older lady came into the store. She was wearing a blue head bandanna and overalls. Honestly, she didn't look very well balanced and her skin was a disaster. She came to my cash register, so, I checked her out. I didn't think anything of it, just another customer.. Right? "How are you doing today? Is this all for you?"
Wrong. No response. Silence. Alrighty then.
She grabbed onto the side of my hand when I handed the change to her. Then, she said with a convicted passion "The day of reckoning is upon us!!! Repent!! Be saved! The lord cometh any day!"
Then she turned around and walked out the door at a rapid pace, with her Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar in tow. "Okay, thank you" I said to her in astonishment.
It was, unexpected. I mean, sure, questions about erections and arthritis are not a surprise. But, The day of reckoning? I mean, she could have at least told me more.. What if I hadn't been raised in a borderline fundamentalist Christian church? I would have never known what she meant! Shame on her for just leaving me hanging like that. Note to self, Google, "Day of reckoning" and also "Strike fear/guilt into peoples hearts/minds for use as brainwashing technique".
About an hour later another older woman, who was somewhat rude, distant, and refused to make eye contact with me came to my register. "How are you today?" I asked with a smile.. I'm always as nice as possible, especially to the grouchy old women. Yes, I enjoy it. Well, she either didn't hear my question (possible) or ignored me (more likely). When we finished our transaction she slid to me a tract that said "Will you be left behind after the rapture!? Repent and be saved!" and it had Jesus riding a horse on it and people flailing all over dressed in white robes. Then, her piercing eyes darted at mine, and she walked quickly out the door. Actually the tract art was pretty cool. Very old-school-wood-block-prin
At this point I started to wonder various things..
Do I look like a heathen today? I was wearing a white v-neck t-shirt, light wash skinny jeans, and brown ankle boots. My hair was down and I was wearing my glasses and a little make up. Not exactly an old slayer t-shirt and a pentagram belt buckle.
Was there a revival at the church down the street? It happens a lot, so it's a possibility.
Is there a grouchy-old-women-who-are-
Do I have "666" written on my forehead in Sharpie Marker? I can't possibly, Carlos is off today, because it's his birthday, and he's the only person who would do that..
What if I actually DID attend their church, but they were so unmindful, selfish, and unfriendly they never noticed me? Could happen, if I did..
What if they are experiencing psychosis/paranoia/delusio
A brilliant coworker of mine, asked me what I said in response, not much, was my answer. She said she would have made strong mention, No thank you to their propaganda spreading. I wish I had the courage or at least just thought to say something like that. That would have been awesome. Really, the only thing I could do was smile and say "Oookaaay then.. thank you." May be next time I'll think of something better, if they don't run out the door so quickly.
I do understand this phenomenon though. Growing up it surrounded me like a force unknown and beyond understanding to people who have not experienced it. Pressuring me to repent every Wednesday morning at school, Wednesday night and Sunday morning at church, and various times in between, when I was never good enough for Jesus. Using guilt as a mechanism in avoiding, at all possible costs, going to hell. It built a lot of character in me at a young age. I learned to seek the truth in peoples actions, an ability I still to this day, greatly value in myself.
The old ladies today were just keeping it real and reminding me of where I've come from, so, thanks old ladies, for that. May be next time I'll ask them about Jesus and his kindness and love, something I didn't really pick up from them as they ran out the door.
I guess I looked like a heathen today. My peace sign necklace could be a broken cross, a sign of the devil! My genuine smile, a tool of the dark lords deception. My servitude, a sure symptom of an occult follower. Yep, I have "Dark Follower Lucifer" written all over me. May be Friday they will come in and cast the demons out of me.. If you believe in that sort of thing...
Meanwhile, I'll be answering phone calls about Horny Goat Weed and talking to other old women, who are slightly more friendly, about Revesterol. Dr. Oz talked about it on Oprah.. It reverses aging you know!!! Yay, Oprah!
