Why Josh Can't Be Left Alone

We went shopping at the small neighborhood grocery store to pick up a few yogurts for the week. We got there to find out that everything in the store was half off - they were closing up the store for good, and today was the last day they'd be open. Now this place is a neighborhood institution, the cliched place where everybody knew you and you'd be greeted with a smile and, yes, by name. Everybody seemed pretty upset, customers and workers alike. Of course that didn't stop a mob of people from storming the place to stock up on their food. We spent over three hundred dollars to take advantage of their half off deal. It was quite the shopping spree. The refrain was "we don't want to take advantage of their misfortune, but grab a few more of those cereal boxes!" Quite compelling, people's behavior. So concerned with themselves, even as they lament another's misfortune. And they were such nice people, at the store. We had a few hundred dollars of gift certificates, and we couldn't use them all, so I traded them to other customers, and the check out lady made sure that we were able to use them all, before they closed.

Of course, me being the opportunist, waxed a little less nostalgic than the rest. I wanted to know who was wholesaling or liquidating the remaining merchandise after today. And who was taking over the lease payments. And why they would shut down with one days notice. I guess that's my self-centered take on life. Abstracting issues and removing their human element. Just seeing everything as a case of efficiency and opportunity. You learn about yourself from random occurences.
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