I went to Walmart yesterday to do my Sunday grocery shopping. I was later than usual since I didn't want to take Turner and had to wait for Tanner to get back home from his trip. Since I live MILES and MILES from any fast food joint or grocery store, it's usually an afternoon event. AND since I live smack dab in the middle of Amish country, to find any store open on Sunday is a real chore; let alone a Sunday afternoon.
So there I was, Millersburg Walmart at 6 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. I had all of my groceries in my cart and other necessities when I remembered that I wanted to buy Wednesday Sisters. I priced it on Amazon and was hoping to find it cheaper, so I started looking around where the cards are located. No books. Looked around office supplies, children's books, even tried around electronics since I had just came from the grocery section and didn't see any books there. Seriously, did this Walmart not carry books? I must have looked totally frustrated because a guy in a blue smock approached me and asked if I needed help finding anything. Here's how it went:
blue smock: Can I help you find anything?
me: Yes. Where are the books at?
blue smock? Fer readin?
me: pause. (I wanted to say, "I checked by the writin' sticks and they weren't there.")
me: Yeah.
Blue Smock's manager approaches.
Manager: Can I help you find something?
blue smock: Yeah. She's looking for books. You know, like fer readin'. As he says this, he makes the hand gestures like he's opening a book.
Was it so his manager wouldn't be confused as to what a book is? Obviously, blue smock threw it in for safe measure, just in case further clarification was necessary.
At this point I'm 1. fighting laughter and 2. trying my hardest not to say something sarcastic.
The manager FINALLY says, "yeah, they're between check out lines 12 and 13. I managed a "thank you" and headed toward the vast library of Walmart that sits between the check out lines 12 and 13. I thought I missed it at first, but then I saw it. A two-sided shelf with three rows of books on each side.
First, I browse past the Twilight series followed by "What to Expect when You're Expecting." Obviously the books were shelved based on the requests of the locals. I made my way through the housewife porn Harlequin novels, Stephen King, and the bottom shelf holding 2 Nicholas Sparks books and Sci-Fi novels. At this point, I'm running out of hope that the book I'm looking for is shelved on the other side, but I still had a twinge of hope. As I panned through the latest Guinness Book of World Records and Jerry Eicher books, I proceeded to pay for my groceries and head home.
Ok, I understand there will never be a Borders in Millersburg, OH or any book store for that matter that doesn't have the word "Christian" or "Religious" in front of it. But for Pete's sake, what are people around here reading? They aren't reading, is that it? I think that's it. Instead you'll find a million Goodwill's, Salvation Army buildings, Dollar Stores, Drive-Thru's, and Tobacco/Lottery shacks.
It's a huge reflection of what is going on in my hometown. Teenage pregnancy is ALWAYS an issue, domestic violence, poverty, government assistance, abuse and neglect, foreclosures, and repossessions. Education evidently isn't a priority in most homes and the vicious cycle of ignorance is repeated over and over again. It's SO frustrating.
I wish I could pull every dirty, neglected, poor kid and give them a better start in life. These kids are left alone all of the time to fend for themselves to be babysat by the television or they are moved from house to house or trailer to trailer because their freaking parents can't hold a job . . . or stay in a relationship for more than 6 months. Just long enough to get pregnant/impregnate and move on. These are the kids that have 5 half sister's and 3 step-parents. It's so screwed up and I get all out of sorts when I can't help. Aaahhh!
See what happens to me when I go to Walmart and can't find a book?
I sometimes let things get to me way too easy. Since I can't save the world, I can stress the importance of a good education to Turner and do my best to encourage his learning. Yeah, I can do that.
Let it go, Jen. Let it go.
2 comments:
omg. that is so sad that you can't even find a decent book around there. i can't imagine my life as a young adult without books...and it's sad that they don't provide a better selection for kids in that area.
really sad.
This is an EXCELLENT post!
First, I was appalled last time I was in Walmart's book section. It's a joke! It's the equivalent of buying dinner at a gas station! So sad.
Second, we have to stop ignoring uncomfortable issues like sex and drugs and poverty because they aren't going away! They are getting worse.
No amount of Christian businesses in a town is going to keep the kids from having sex. We have to talk to the kids about it and start very early!
Twenty years ago when I was in middle school people were getting pregnant. I can't imagine what it's like now! We have a young mother's program at work that serves pregnant girls from age 10 to 14. The program is always full and always has a waitlist. I think 500 girls have gone through already this year.
Yes, I live in a big city, but nothing goes on here that isn't going on all over America. It's just that there are more people living here so the numbers look bigger. It's horrible.
People should be ashamed of themselves.
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