Karmic Competition--March 20, 2006 repost

Somehow working outside on rainy days isn't as much of a joy as it is on sunny days. But, hey… I need to get paid. So work outside, I did. What I don't understand are the people that choose to be outside in the rain. Those odd customers that insist on shopping at a nursery in the middle of a downpour. And what is it about the rain that seems to bring out the most unpleasant of customers? We certainly had our share today. One woman felt she was truly special. Not only did she sport a mullet, but she had the personality to go along with it. She "worked a lot," did we know that? A home healthcare specialist no less. Oh and did she mention that she "lived over the Grade?" Hmmmmmmmm OK. Another man simply insisted on barking orders in a cryptic fashion. To top things off Rude-Beckia was in. So named because as a landscape designer, she envisions herself a kindred spirit and chats cheerfully with us as she makes us pull down pot after heavy pot because, "They all seem to have some flaw." (Hey… they all have some flaw. Wow.). Well today I just wasn't having any of Rude-Beckia's demands. I did what any self-possessed, confident woman would do. I hid. While I was hiding at the back of the nursery with a friend I casually mentioned that since we were in the middle of a storm, maybe one of the large trees would fall on this insane woman. I pictured her little legs sticking out from under the tree with one pant leg still stuck in her boots as it always was. If it could work for Dorothy, it could work for me. My friend practically gasped and proceeded to knock on the nearest wood surface she could find. (Had she been Catholic, she would have crossed herself.) Surely that was bad Karma she remarked. "I think Karma understands sarcasm," I replied feeling a little insulted. (After all she was the one who commented on the previous woman's mullet.) As the rain came down harder, we decided to retreat further into the nursery office where we could watch for Rude-Beckia from a distance and disappear at a moments notice should she creep our way. Another coworker was not so fortunate. My friend laughed and pointed out his misfortune of being caught in the middle of a downpour pulling down pot after pot for this crazy woman. "Hah!" I said proudly, "Surely making fun of one's actual misfortune is worse Karma than speculating on the amusement that would be caused by one's potential misfortune?" Satisfied with my little Karmic coup, I went to lunch.