Got any pet peeves….I unashamedly have lots! Let’s start with the shopping carts at Wal Mart. Why on earth do some of you not put the buggy back in the rack? Been sitting in the porch swing trying to think of a legitimate reason for this indiscretion. Don’t leave the buggy in a random parking place or behind someone’s car. If you are afraid to leave the little fellow in the car long enough to walk the buggy to the rack, don’t put the baby in the car seat while you unload the groceries. Take the baby in the buggy to the rack. When I lived in Alexander City I was always rescuing buggies at the Mill Square Dollar General before they rolled down the steep hill and killed someone. And nothing is as aggravating as trying to park when the buggy is sideways at the end of the parking slot. Do you pull in a little, get out and move the buggy, so your car will fit? Holy shiitake mushroom, just put the buggy back! How hard can it be?

Pet peeve number two— pushy fundraisers or salesmen stationed at or right inside the front door of a business — not talking about the Salvation Army bell ringers or Scouts selling popcorn or cookies!

Example, I went to Sam’s several weeks ago with my youngest sister-in-law, you remember her, stands on one leg to try on shoes. She’s tough on those pushy salesmen! We were walking in the door of Sam’s and the television rep was peddling his large flatscreen tvs. Before I could say,“Oh, no, better avoid him,” she belts him in her retired school teacher’s voice with a loud, firm, “We’re not interested!” I wanted to fist bump her and shout, “Yeah, you got him!” But he starts following her saying, “How do you know you’re not interested, you didn’t even look at what I’m selling!” I’m not kidding. I was stumbling around with my head turned away to keep from making eye contact with him and she was just ambling along deaf to his pitch as he followed us up the aisle. Pushy little fellow!

Another annoyance on my radar are loud cell phone conversations when you are waiting in line to check out. I don’t need to know every detail of Aunt Cleo’s hysterectomy or listen to you cuss your boyfriend for his indiscretions. You can wait till you’re outside or in your car, please. Plus you are standing so close to me I can hear both sides of the conversation. When I can feel your breath on my neck you are in my space! Back up!

And we can’t forget the fast food drive through conversations. How many times do I have to repeat my order and they’ll still get it wrong? Was at McDonalds one day ordering an Oreo McFlurry. The voice says, “We can’t make any flurries, the ice cream machine is down.” Then she says cheerfully and excited, “We can make you a milkshake!” Really? Still trying to wrap that around my brain.

Years ago my nieces would come up from Florida to spend the summer with their grandmother Sylvia, Chief’s sister. She lived next door to us so lots of times I’d take her grandchildren and my children to the Sonic for a treat. One of the hamburger combos advertised mustard on the cheeseburger. We’d always order this number and ask for “no mustard.” The drive through voice would always tell us this number came with mustard and we’d always say, “Just leave the mustard off.” But then we’d hear, “But it comes with mustard!” The children would be hysterical after hearing this for several times. Never could get our point across to just leave the mustard off! Seriously, how hard is that to understand.

And last but not least the pet peeve of correct change. Ever buy something for say $1.10 and you give the cashier two one dollar bills. Then you hear the mantra, “Don’t you have a dime?” Maybe I do or maybe I don’t and maybe I save my change in a fruit jar every day. Just accept the two dollars and be glad modern cash registers tell you how much change to return to the customer!