I have a rhetorical-ish question: When you are at the grocery store and you finish your shopping what do you do with the cart? Do you return it responsibly to the cart return OR (gasp) do you leave it in the middle of the parking lot? Now, I understand the temptation to just leave it...you're busy, the kids are screaming, your Ben and Jerry's is melting, AND you are reassured by the knowledge that each store usually employs some gangly teen whose sole responsibility is to periodically peruse the parking and herd the strays back into the store. It's a compelling argument in favor of what I like to call "cart abandonment".
However, this is the request I'd like to send out into the blog-world...the next time you are faced with the option of return or abandonment I'd like you to imagine the following:
A cart sits alone and expectant in the sea of asphalt. It was a calm day to begin with but suddenly a breeze picks up. The wind gathers speed. Without warning the lonely shopping cart careens wildly across the lot. It has determined it's course and heads directly for the passenger-side door of a blue/gray Sienna. Alas, there is no pre-pubescent lad running to catch the rogue cart. There is only an over-tired mother with a car seat in one hand and two toddlers attached to the other scurrying frantically through the parking lot in an attempt to save her beloved mini-van door from a potentially fatal blow. Does she make it? We all hope she does. If she manages to dive in front of the oncoming cart we would all feel a twinge of triumph...because we've all been there, right?
So I'll repeat my question. What do you do with the cart? Think about it.
13 comments:
Nice Blog Amy! You should see my doors! They are victims of this crime totally! Now I have to ask, did this happen to you? The scenerio that was given?
I usually tend to park next to a cart corral, however I admit that I am a cart-abandoner...too many shows on Oprah about lunatics car-jacking their kids, etc. Once your Sienna starts to look a bit like mine, with scooter-handle-bar scratches down the side, the shopping cart dings won't look so bad!
The scenario was indeed an actual event which happened to yours truly. I do believe a few obscenities might have escaped my mouth as well. I did catch it, though. I saved my van and a mercedes that was parked nearby as well. I'm a hero!
Oh I'm so glad to hear the happy ending! You had me on the edge of my seat wondering if "she" made it. Phew!
And in answer to your question, I NEVER, EVER leave the cart in lot. If ever I'm tempted to abandon, the cart seems to take on some sort of personality that calls to me saying, "Don't leave me here." O.K., so it's really most likely my overly active sense of guilt talking. But whatever the source of the voice, it's loud enough that I can't ignore it. And now I'll be thinking of you the next time I hear it.
Yeah Amy, I bet this is really your way of confessing and feeling sorry about the time when you abandoned your cart. It's smart to turn it around I give ya that. I however park next to a cart return so I am never left with this predicament. And I can say I have put my hero cape on a few times to save an innocent minivan named Stan once or twice in my life. Not Stan each time he was just once. I don't know the other minivans names. I forgot to ask!
;) You'll never know.
guilty! I leave it by my car, because I want the gangly boy to have something to do.
thanks for answering hit the hay, now I can post another question, also I tagged you, ha ha ha.
woops, I thought I did tag you. well you don't have to do it.
You know, I've never thought abbout it. However, when faced with the decision, I will picture you running across the lot to save your van! Actually, in Ohio, you have to pay a quarter to use the cart and you only get your quarter back when you return it! Sometimes, I have to admit, it's not worth the quarter.
I usually leave my cart in the cart return because of the reason you brought up. I'd be so sick if a cart hit my car, I'm sure I'd ramble a chain of not very nice words. A few times I have left it out because I have been grateful when there is a cart left by my parking spot so I don't have carry giant baby too far.
Amy Lou is one of my best friends Amy Lou Poo Nielson, she lives in "NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK CITY? Get the rope." My name on here, Teri Lou is for Teri Lou Poo Drew. I don't know when or where we came up with this, it's been a while.
You guys came by the other day and I missed you. I saw your note with sidewalk chalk on our drive way (great idea by the way). We were bummed we missed you.
I have to admit...I am a fair weathered cart putter backer. BUT now that I have read your tramatic tale I will be sure to remember this the next time it is raining buckets on my head and run to the nearest cart return immediately!
I too, get irritated with carts left in the middle of nowhere. I purposefully park as close as I can to a cart bin so I don't have to walk far. I try as often as I can to return it.
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