And now for (as Paul Harvey used to say) "The Rest of the Story" ...
Or, this recovering alcoholic only dreams of living "the simple life"

I'm feeling worse today and don't know that I'll feel any better tomorrow. I had to finalize the refrigerator purchase, so I made myself go out in horrendous weather and do it today. The salesman & I were down to the delivery time when discovered I have to be home the entire day or pay $20--even then have to give them a six hour window for delivery. For a three hour window, they require that I pay another 50 bucks.

Nobody mentioned this until all the paperwork done, I signed everything, and was moments from walking out the door ... none too soon for me. I asked to speak with the manager, and the salesman explained the problem. The manager (a young man about 25, six-ft with the footballer's build) took an "at rest" position with his feet, folded his arms, & said, "Ma'am, nothing I can do about it." Then he turned and walked away.

The salesman got red in the face, looked away, then explained he was "low man on the totem pole here," a month on the job after being unemployed for 2 1/2 years. There really wasn't anything he could do, but he was sorry to have wasted my time. I told him it wasn't his fault, he'd made the sale and had sold me exactly what I'd wanted.

I walked out of the store, put up my umbrella as I walked into the rain, and cursed a lot. Okay, cussed a lot. *** ***** **** should've sizzled the raindrops away!! I hate to shop, and I'd be durned if I was going to do any more of it. I went back in and found the manager.

Turns out deliveries are contracted through a local company, and he called them during our chat. When they call, giving this "window," they also give their phone number--if the time they suggest isn't convenient, I can reschedule! Also seems kid-manager has a very pregnant wife a week over her due date, and he dreads going home. He apologized many times ... and I said a prayer of gratitude that he doesn't come home to me.

Also that I have a refrigerator, in spite of the kid manager with a pregnant wife!

But oh, there was a time earlier in my recovery ... and many times during my recovery ... and times not so long ago (last week or yesterday) when I wouldn't have been able to do what I did today: Hold my temper. Keep my mouth shut. Think twice about what had happened ... and how best I could handle it. Go back and be reasonable, polite, a little bit "Southern" (better than my birthright New England confrontation).

Admittedly, it was something that I "put on"--it was a role from my college acting class. But it was a choice I never could've made for most of my life. I like being able to make that choice because it feels like a responsible, productive one.

Thanks for listening, y'all.
Roadie