I was good this morning. I didn't run and tell my sister or my mom about the horrible people in the world, represented by three of them at the grocery store.

I used the encounters with these pained people as evidence of spirituality--mine and in general.

And before I share, It's necessary to mention how wonderful it was to be there with my two boys. I have let my fear of them acting up keep me in the house and shopping at night with someone babysitting. Why they have toys by the cereal, I don't know. But besides that it was nice to have their company. I love to show them off and let them absorb the world.

The first obstacle came in the form of an older man at the deli. He commented on the boys' innocence and laughed at the story I posted here in my last entry. He asked if I told them about their 16 years of school ahead of them and went on about his own kids' many years of college. His son owns a business and his daughter plays the flute. I told him I was still in school for healthcare services and he literally gave me a thumbs down. Oh, my eyes are welling up....

I timidly agreed with him, like I do, and smiled on even though I felt like telling him to go to hell. I saw him again for a few aisles ... he said he hated this store. I told him I liked it because, after the remodeling, it became nice and bright. He said they needed some competition. Whatever. I was struck by the mention of the flute.

Then I saw Nancy, my dad's old girlfriend who works there, and told her about my grandpa. I wished I had told her how great her hair looked.

Next, my cashier was mad at me because, while I was tending to my kids winter-wear needs, she failed to process my coupons that were waiting on the little shelf where they put the receipts for credit customers to sign them. She huffed at me and said customer service would handle it. No problem for me. My bagger rudely told me not to bring the kid cart outside. Again, I was unbreakable ... until getting in my van.

I felt beaten up. An incredibly uncomfortable feeling overcame me. A hatred. An evil plan. I felt like going back in to tell the customer service lady that her apology meant a lot to me and to tell Nancy that I liked her hair. I also felt like calling my sister to receive a false sense of confirmation that I was still OK--it wouldn't have been pretty. I would have ripped apart the mean people to build myself back up, which would breed more badness for me throughout the day.

I told Lloyd to look at the big X across the sky. And Dallas was amazed by the flocks of birds to and from the lake. Wish you were there.

What I did (after my sister didn't answer her phone, which I became calm and relieved about) was pull into the off-limits drive so Lloyd could watch the metal dinosaurs take apart an old building. We sat a while. I could've watched them all day. Lloyd, too. Dallas was singing "nah-nee-nah" for his morning nap and popsicles couldn't handle too much more sun.

***

I did talk to my sister and mom when I got home, and I did not say a word about feeling bad because of the adverse events/personalities that crossed my path. As hard as it was, I chose wisely, and I feel great about it, where I would have otherwise acted impulsively and felt bad. Pretty simple.