I was shopping for a tuner/metronome today. ( Wound up buying one that I liked, too.) While I was there I bumped into a friend from school. Not a close friend, but an acquaintance. I'd say I knew her better that she knew me because I graded papers last year for a professor whose class she took. She has nice, legible handwriting and earned one of the better grades in the class to boot.
The store was busy. The school year has begun and 6th graders around the world are taking band for the first time. So, the store being a music store, there were a number of parents with their eager 6th graders wanting to rent an instrument, purchase band music, cork grease, music stand, polishing cloth, blah, blah, blah.
I asked her advice on what metronome to get. She gave me her advice and I took it. That done, I began absently thumbing though sheet music, looking for materials to use with my students.
As I did so we started chatting about classes, teachers, work, and music. Since we're both at the same college, earning degrees in the same profession, taking classes from the same professors, and passing the same people in the hallways, we have a good deal in common. As is apt to happen, our "sameness" gave us lots chat about. Besides liking her for making my job during the school year easier with her neat handwriting, I've found she's cheerful, informed, and interesting as a person. We had a great conversation. I would have felt guilty talking if I was not there to make a purchase, but such was not the case.
The boss did not agree. Looking perturbed and quite irritated he requested if she would assist the next costumer. I didn't mind too much, figuring we could finish our conversation once the wave of customers passed. We did finish a few minutes later once she was available. Then she had to leave, and I finished shopping.
The shop was rather empty at the moment I finished choosing the curriculum I needed and went to check out. I watched as my purchases totaled up and up and up. It 's a good thing my students pay back the cost of their music because I rarely feel that music is a cheap commodity. Comforting myself with this thought (and having allowed the cashier to relieve me of my $$$), I waited for the receipt. Lo and behold! The boss was the cashier next door. He came over to get something. I don't know what he was after. Nonetheless, it was amusing to watch his face when he saw how much I had paid. He was suddenly polite, making a joke and smiling. Guess money had a certain persuasive quality, doesn't it?
Today's lessons 1) Take better notice of whether a friend might get in trouble 2) Don't let shoulders slump. I received a photo of myself that didn't look too good. Shoulders down and forward may look all right from the front, but look nasty from a side angle.