I was out shopping with my two boy, who had decided that their father would like a set of knives for his 40th birthday - despite already haven't bought other gifts previously. But what can you do - if i don't agree and buy them, i look tight and bitter cos i don't want to spend my hard earned money on my ex-husband (ok mebbe not that hard earned... work with me people! work with me here!!) and if i do buy a set of knives i can't shake the symbolism of the phrase 'out to get him with knives).
Truth is there isn't much angst between my kids' dad and I and I don't imagine for one minute he'd think twice about whatever we bought for him, s'longs it wasn't free and it was useful. So i agree.. i never could resist the look of my children's begging expressions even tho' in reality where there was once squishy, sweet baby faces there now resides the handsome chiseled faces of young men.
Ah the passage of time is a sneaky customer!
So we trundle off to the shop to find a set of chef's knives fit for a king (or at least that's what I'm told). Browsing thro' the plethora of knife choices, I can't help feeling a bit dumb. I didn't realise there was such a selection. I mean, who knew... except perhaps those in the Jamie Oliver brigade.
The other thought that keep recurring, makes me smile, which at least makes it appear to my boys that I'm fully in the spirit of buying for the ex! I love the irony of buying knives with a 'life time guarantee' for someone's 40th birthday. I'm glad of the smile it provides.
After much debate and picking up and putting down they make their selection. Which they hand to me drawing my attention to a label on the back warning us that only people who are over 18 can purchase these products. On the surface, it would seem very sensible. However, as my 16 year old pointed out to me - he could be married with a house of his own but no knives. He is of course correct! Who makes up these ridiculous, knee jerk reactions and rules.... what's more my wicked minds starts to ponder - who follows them!
We get to the checkout and after just a short wait we off load in the checkout of a young cool looking operator. He's got piercing that just looking at make my eyes water. But hes a pleasant fellow and being lovely he strikes up a conversation which i take and run away with as follows
Cool dude hey,
Me no
Cool dude oh, erm....
(he assumes i'm joking with him ... which of course i am. I can't think of any 38 year old who can get away with looking under 18, even short ones like me!)
~~~~ nervous tension ~~~~~
SILENCE......
Cool dude that's a lot of knives, you like cooking?
Me no, i'm setting up a new gang...'fat mo's' you wanna join?
Cool dude
Me
Cool dude do you want a bag for them?
Me no point, i'm jst about to use them.....
(cool dude .... takes money and hands over knives)
Cool dude have a nice day!
Me It will be now.....
Ok so mebbe that was all mildly amusing, well at least it was for me... from my childrens' groans I can only assume that they were less than impressed yet again at their mother's behaviour. But to me it does illustrate that altho' the law is clear and most of us know what is right and wrong... there is still that lingering politeness in social situations that hampers and masks our outrage. I guess that old saying '"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke) sums up a historical struggle between good and evil. Question is, how come when our own reactions are so lacking in conviction are we so quick to condemn others who do not act in the face of evil?
I'll leave you to ponder that whilst go gift wrap knives!
