Walk This Way

Have you ever watched how people walk? If you ever have the time, sit on a bench at the front of a store and actually label the gait of persons walking by you. I had the pleasure of waiting while a friend finished her purchases. Shopping at Wal-mart is always an adventure. They have an annoying habit of changing brands or changing display areas in their store. They aren’t quite as bad as the old Pechin’s grocery in Dunbar, Pennsylvania. Pechin’s might move an item all the way across the maze of aisles to another spot. Wal-mart hasn’t done that quite yet, but back to my story.

Besides Wal-mart shoppers coming to the store in various dress, or should I say undress, each person has a peculiar way of walking. Some folk’s step is a pause as they lift their foot to the next step, in a lilting sort of pace. Some rush in as though they are late for an appointment or are in a hurry to find an item and go home after a trying day at work. Older patrons’ gait might be a shuffle following in the wake of their shopping cart. Step, step, pause, step to search the shelves for their desired item; usually it is placed too high or too low for these elderly patrons to reach. They find a higher priced product has been conveniently placed so they must choose to ask for help to reach or crawl on the floor to grasp the item that they wanted.

Some people trudge into the store as if they would rather be anywhere but shopping. Tramping through the crowded aisles with a scowl on their face, they become easily agitated when another shopper blocks the entire aisle, totally oblivious of the traffic jam that their cart has made. There are those who roam the store, planning on milk and bread and have a check out bill of fifty dollars; the look on their face, priceless. Striding in, all business is a guy in greasy clothing. He heads to the automotive section and returns with a can of oil, a tool, or lubricant. There is no delay, work waits at home.

Then there are those who saunter into the store covered in tattoos, high end jeans and expensive boots. Nails done, hair dyed and coiffed looking just shy of a fashion plate. Leaving their buggy is piled high with things many laborers can’t afford. That doesn’t cause me consternation until they pay for it with food stamps.