Monday, July 07, 2008

About spatial awareness

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Earlier today I wandered into my local supermarket to stock up on essentials. You know the kinds of things – beer, cream buns, chocolate, magazines and things.
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So there I was minding my own business when I suddenly got poked in the eye! Honestly! This little old lady was gesticulating wildly and was presumably blissfully unaware of the other people around her.

And that’s not all. I rounded a corner and a girl, who was looking over her shoulder and nattering at the time, barged her trolley into a delicate part of my anatomy. And did she apologise? Did she heck! – she just put her hand over her mouth and sniggered.

Well, that got me thinking. Why is it when pushing a supermarket trolley, most people suddenly lose their spatial awareness? Why is it they suddenly become oblivious of everyone around them?

I watched for a while. Walking backwards is a popular phenomenon. They inadvertently walk past the item they want, so they engage reverse with no regard whatsoever for anyone who may be behind them.

Then you get the swingers! They suddenly, and without any warning decide to head off the opposite direction and swing the trolley around like a whip collecting anyone who may be within its arc.

And why is it some people just have to push the cart sideways? Or drag instead of push it, which leaves it wagging like a dog’s tail?

And what fun when a guy comes charging backwards toward you with a cart piled with stock? He always seems to be in a world of his own. And the cleaning person wheeling her mops, buckets and bin liners along. .
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Here's another one. Is it really necesaary to talk on the phone whist trying to push the trolley with one hand? Why can't it wait until they get outside. When in a deep conversation, everyone else in the area may just as well be invisible.
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Another thing. Why do people have to cling on to the trolley no matter what? There are pinch points in any supermarket. Places like the ‘reduced to clear’ section where I buy all my food. Now I, being a considerate person, park my trolley a distance away so as not to block the aisle, or prevent other people from peering into the display. No one’s going to steal it! After all you haven’t paid for it yet.
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Okay, I did once head off with someone else load of groceries. Actually it was quite funny. I realised what I had done after a few minutes when I spotted a pack of Tampax between the eggs and the bread rolls! I abandoned it! I glanced back to see a confused woman standing scratching her gyrating head!

I must tell you! I did something silly the other day. I was plucking a few bargains from the reduced display, and without looking properly, popped them into the trolley behind me. I picked up a short dated pizza and I thought I had deposited it into the trolley, but it went plop onto the floor instead. I looked around and the trolley had gone. Then I realised I’d been adding my bargains to someone else’s shopping and it had been wheeled away!


If you are one of the spatially challenged, it’s best to rehearse a few excuses. For instance, when I hit someone I usually go ‘tut’ and blame it on a wobbly wheel. Or I peer over their shoulder and explain that I left my white stick in the car. When I run over someone’s darling child I say I didn’t see him, even though I deliberately run straight into them if they are being little shits!
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Anyway, to go back to the beginning, I completed my purchases this afternnon and headed off toward the check out. I was suddenly distracted by the site of a young lady reaching down to grab something from the bottom shelf. As a result I barged into a mile high stack of corn flakes which came tumbling to the ground and into several people’s trolleys! I had to laugh especially when I realised that the cause of my accident wasn’t a girl at all, but a young man in rather tight fitting jeans , a top in a fetching shade of pink, and a penchant for mascara!

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13 comments:

  1. Mmmmmm.. you sound like a nice boy!

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  2. Hi HI funny These supermarket adventures. I always am surprised when someone blocks the path causes a trafic jam and is totally unaware of it.
    Luckily it is not as busy in NZ supermarkets

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  3. Oh Keith, I'm gigglin so much. I can totally relate re the oldies, reminds me of my time on the cruise.

    No wine in your supplies? Better start stocking up for when I visit x

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  4. Yes! to all of those - do you have the "bargers" too? Those demanding souls who crowd ahead of you and shout their orders to the meat man or the baker, drowning out your own order? In a fit of uncharacteristic pique, I whirled on an offender once and asked if she was local. When she said no, she was from the city (New Yorkers are taking over our rural area), I politely but firmly suggested she go home then and order from her own butcher so that I could complete my order in peace. The butcher grinned as the offended woman stomped off, leaned over the counter and whispered, "You don't know how often I wish I could do that!"

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  5. This is a blogsite worth returning to. Love your humor right down to "a penchant for mascara".

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  6. This is "anonymous". For some reason I usually have a problem with Google admitting I exist. I am not "Anonymous". I am Mary From Meander With Me, and a frequesnt visitor to Why Paisley's site. Isn't she remarkable? I'll be back.

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  7. heeheh...Keith, you really are so funny....and that guy must have been sbniggering all along his way out!! :D

    I was wodnering about this issue too last weekend when I went to do my shopping...but I was analysing the trolley's wheels..why is it that the damn wheel always tends to move sideways, when the trolley is nearly full and you can't just move it in a straight line? :(

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  8. Bloody women.....same all over the world.
    Why do they have to natter in the middle of the aisle way?
    Why do they have to stand one side .....wait till ya about to pass then go for the item?

    GGeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzz

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  9. Kieth,

    I left a comment, but it didn't seem to go through...so I'll try again.

    Thank you for visiting my site at Jensjargon.com For if you hadn't I may not have found yours with your soul-pleasing poetry. I hope you will come again.

    Best,
    JKMichelle

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  10. I too giggled all the way through this, but I laughed out loud at your wrecking the corn flakes over a (and there is no politically correct way to put this) girly-boy.
    I am always astounded by how grocery carts render normally polite and considerate people into complete maniacs.

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  11. Never gave it much thought before, but you're absolutely right...and your post was not only revealing but funny. Thanks for stopping by Spatter...

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  12. Keith this is so true thanks for posting this. it made me laugh.

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  13. that was hilarious...now i'm looking forward to my trip to teh supermarket!!!

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