May 24, 2008

No quarter


I wish I could digitally capture the facial expression that Scott has whenever I do something stupid. It is a combination of amusement, disbelief and pity. Whether his pity is for me or for himself I do not know. He gave me just such a look recently when we went grocery shopping.


We used to shop at a hoity-toity market with free-range shopping carts. When our pets put us in the poor house, however, we began shopping at the local no-frills grocery store (which is named, fittingly, No Frills). Unlike the chi-chi market, No Frills has instituted a loss-prevention program for its shopping carts. The carts are chained together in drafty shelters in the store parking lot. To release a cart from the chain-gang, one must insert a quarter into a coin slot affixed to the handle.


During the shopping trip in question, when I fished around for a quarter, I found one with a design that I had not seen before. It featured a tall ship, its sails stretched by strong winds, and the dates 1604-2004. Curious, I asked Scott what happened in 1604. He didn't know, either.


We did our grocery shopping, loaded our items in the car and I returned the cart to the shelter. When I locked the cart to the next one in line and withdrew a quarter, I was amazed to see that the coin had the exact same design as the one I had used as a deposit. I excitedly ran back to the car and showed the quarter to Scott, telling him about the unbelievable coincidence. That's when he gave me The Look.


Listen, I'm not mechanically minded. How was I supposed to know that the quarter I put in is always the same one I get back? I don't think about these things. Obviously.


11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, Scott in 1604 AD, Samuel de Champlain's Second Voyage precipitated the first permanent settlement in Canada. The Iroquois begged to differ with disastrous results for the settlers.
By the way, Calamity, way to turn yourself in...a family tradition dating back to at least 1604 AD.
Dad.

HAR said...

Calamity- I am with you. I have no idea how that is even possible.

Rob K said...

Oh, hell, I would have made the same mistake.

And Scott shouldn't have given you The Look. He should have let you believe in magic quarters.

Boy, next thing he'll be saying there's no such thing as Santa Claus...

Heather said...

lol at least you figured out how to work that - I never can. its' rather pathetic.

Romance said...

I had no idea either... how does the machine know to give you back 'your' quarter.... still trying to figure it out...

Anonymous said...

No ho ho!!!

Calamity Jen said...

I feel so much better knowing that I'm not the only one who doesn't understand the inner workings of the shopping-cart coin slot. This may give me the courage to admit to some of my other perceived stupidities.

ryssee said...

Who knew??? Not me! (But I would've taken the opportunity to make fun too!) LOL

Romance said...

I still don't get it -- I really don't.... its like a magic trick... or reading a map... or telling left from right...

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday my love

Anonymous said...

I'm still trying to figure out why I never see that little elf who turns on the light in the refrigerator everytime I open the door.