Weathered

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Last Saturday, we made the monthly trek to the bigger city for some supplies. The weather was just gorgeous and, if I remember right, it was the first day of summer. What a wonderful drive through the country until.....

We reached the bigger city. There were people hollering at the passing motorists (me) from the sidewalks, holding their signs advertising their fundraising car washes, pizza discounts, and farmer's markets, etc., etc.

I can't stand it. It was just like Tijuana (well without the drug murders). If you've never been there, maybe you've tried San Juan, or Baghdad (but without the bombings). It's all the same. People everywhere begging you to buy their goods, or just begging for money. Pulling on your shirt tails as they follow you along your journey.

We passed at least five youth car washes within the first mile into the bigger city. Now, I never even let my kid wash my car, so what made them think that I would let a bunch of other kids do it? As we approached the entrance to America's largest retailer to get some Chinese imports, there we even more kids collecting money or selling their useless and overpriced crap to support their cause. A political polster table collecting signatures for another school bond (they already squandered last year's), and the usual bums collecting money for their own self interest. "Please Help" their signs read. When was the last time they ever pitched in to help anyone but them selves?

We made our way into the store thinking that there would be some relief. No, there were others there cooking up their half-bite size treats for you to taste test. I politely told the first bag that I'd pass on her fat filled desert as I walked away and leaned against a post while my wife gathered up imports. The bag approached me and again offered her concoction. And again, I rejected her, but this time a little more sternly. Eventually, my wife returned with her over stuffed shopping cart and headed to the gate. As we passed the bag, she presented her offer to my wife. She refused, but deflected the bag to me stating, "I think my husband would love that." As the bag reached toward me with her 1/4 ounce cup of ice cream, I ordered her to stay away from me.

The finale came while I was loading my imports into the car. This dude, walks up to me and hands me some sort of sticker and begins to explain his cause. He got a dozen or so words out before he said that usually people give a little something to pay for the sticker and fund his cause. I said nothing, gave his sticker back along with the "look." He slithered away quickly knowing he was lucky that I didn't post his sticker on his face.

I'm sure it is like this all across America. Perhaps some places are worse than others. But it is just another sign of how America is tolerating change, and that change will make us just like the 3rd world countries that we used to pity.

I'm weathered and all out of change.
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