Friday, May 10, 2019

Just one word, Benjamin.

In line at the grocery after work, circa 1990, cashier asks man ahead of me - about 45 years old - "paper or plastic?" He responds, "Plastic! of course!" and looks at me as if I get him because I had my IBM Badge still hanging off my shirt pocket or maybe I was wearing a tie. I smiled. As the cashier rings him up, I said, "That reminds me of a scene from the movie The Graduate. Are you familiar with it?" "Yes," he says, proudly, "It's why I got into the business!" Again, looks at me like I get the joke. The cashier looks at both of us suspiciously. She finishes his order, he fiddles with his bags and change at the end of the counter, and she asks me - "Paper or plastic?" I proudly responded, "Paper, of course." The man walks away glaring at me over his shoulder.