Randomness To Yuma

With concerns about germs and disease, why are bath & body poofs (yes, I used the word "poof") typically in an open bin without any individual protective covering on them? This is something used for cleansing, yet they are vulnerable to sneezes, grimy hands and all sorts of vileness from other shoppers. And unless you do self-checkout, it gets even worse – a conveyor belt potentially ripe with a bouquet of grossness and a cashier fondling your shower accessory with the deftness of a monkey shitting themselves.

The other night while taking a late-evening stroll, I noticed a Walgreens shopping cart sitting in the grass on a hillside. The Walgreens is a block up the road. I wondered how the cart got there, picturing either a person who at first needed it to walk their groceries home deciding otherwise or clandestine cart races at midnight. It evoked a conversation a few weeks ago with Blake, the Walgreens clerk on the night shift.

The cash register drawer stuck. He made an idle comment about it doing the same during a robbery. Only half listening, counting out my money, I did a double take. Turned out a few years past, someone robbed the store during the night shift. Sometimes if I'm bored or can't sleep I'll walk to the Walgreens, being that it is just up the street and 24-hours. I'll perhaps buy a Yoo-hoo or something significantly unneeded. However, I find my late-night "exercise" curbed since that chat.

My point? Like the poofs, we're all vulnerable. It's just a matter of limiting, or even thwarting, the chances for its occurrence.

©2007 Steve Sagarra