People Watching

I went to several stores with a friend, his wife and their teenage daughter earlier and I like to watch people while they are shopping. It really is easy to do.

First stop: Best Buy. I am watching the sales people watching me while watching the new 3D HD television. I bet Best Buy has a very good sales training program because I wasn't there to buy anything and I was approached by at least four associates. "Is there something I can help you with" or "Do you have any questions about anything" Just think of the possibilities if I was there to spend money. Meanwhile my friend finds the digital camera case he wants, his wife and daughter find Lady Gaga without any interference from the sales associates and off to the checkout they go. I am listening to music on my phone/ mp3 player and I notice the floor manager ( I know he was management because his shirt was a different color than the others and he was flirting with one of the female associates) look at me while I was waiting on my friends to check out. The camera case wouldn't scan through the computer and the "manager" never stopped talking to the pretty associate. Finally another camera case is procured that will scan and off we go from Best Buy.

Second stop: WalMart. Ok, this is the major league of retailers and we all know you see plenty in a Walmart. My friend complains about the six different women standing in the doorway looking at their newly developed photographs. Evidently this is a pet peeve of his. I say you got into the air conditioned super store what the hell? Live and let live. He rants a little. I am amused. We follow my friend's wife and daughter into the women's clothing area and I didn't watch anyone in that area because that would make me the Creepy Old Guy. Us men walk over to the Dad's section display (Father's Day is June 20th) and I didn't see anyone acting any stranger than anyone else. My friend's teenage daughter walks over to be with us and that's when I spot a real C O G. This man is walking behind my friend's daughter while she is coming towards us acting like he is just walking through. I give him the stare and he breaks eye contact and walks off to find another girl to stalk. I watch him walk very fast ( I might add) away from where we are standing. I am easily amused by his discomfort especially since I am a father a pre-teen but that is another story. We join up with my friend's wife and head off to the checkout. Purchases completed off we go to the next store.

Third stop: Academy. Shoe department, uh oh, women and shoes, I can't say much except I wasn't C O G in this instance. I wanted to look but that would be wrong. Remember I have a daughter. Somebody would be blogging about me right now. Commerce completed again off we go into the sweltering heat to crank up the air conditioner. Lady Gaga songs all sound pretty much the same.