???

 Took Mom shopping. I used the electric cart, as my knee still isn't cooperating, where I feel safe walking around long stretches. So, we did the shopping, and I remembered to see if Mom wanted the local paper. I showed it to her, she wanted it.

Now, the odd thing, newspapers are on the OUTSIDE of the checkout. Either you pay at Customer Service, or you go through the cashier lines again. Well, there was a long line at Customer Service, so I tried the self checkout. Astoundingly, I zipped through it with no fighting the machine! 

Pleased that I made it with no swearing, I turned back to give Mom the paper. 

Mom...

Mom... ? 

Where is Mom at? That's screwy... I looked up and down the front area. Checked where she might be able to sit. Had a clerk get on the intercom. (That was a mistake. Didn't know someone could screw up my Mom's name that badly, after repeating it 3 times.) 

Finally, my phone rang. It was Mom. She was at the car. 

Huh. 

Okay. Roll out to the car. Turns out, one of the clerks offered to help Mom walk the cart to the car... But wouldn't stop when she said I was in line, and she was wanting to wait for me. Turns out, he wanted to finish so he could go off shift. 

So Mom was waiting by the car, she doesn't have a key. I buzzed over to the trunk, and we started putting stuff in. A gal that had been watching my confused doings, followed me out, so she could get the cart for her Mom. I got things loaded and gave it to her. 

Wow, what a weird way to end a shopping day...