maybe park benches aren't meant to be sat on

i had two interesting encounters this week.  i'll try to briefly summarize them below.

a few nights ago ali and i did some registry shopping.  after a long afternoon of shopping, we finished up.  i was rather hungry so on my way home i went through the drive-through at taco bell for a quick bite to eat.  there was a line of about 5 cars (which isn't unusual for the one in moorhead) but i figured i would wait in line anyway.  the cars moved at a very slow pace.  it took about 8 minutes just to get to the ordering area.  from there, i would conservatively estimate it took another 12 minutes to get to the window, pay, and receive my food.  once i finally got my food, the cashier/drive through runner made sure to vehemently apologize for the extended delay.  he said something to the effect of, "i'm so sorry for the long wait.  i hope you have a nice evening, please come again."

yesterday i went to the grocery store.  the meteorologists had been predicting the storm of the year with 12+ inches of snow.  (it didn't happen, but that's another story for another day.)  i was almost out of groceries, so i decided to get some in the rare event that i would have been snowed in.  apparently the entire city of moorhead had the same exact idea because the place was just PACKED with people.  i found a line that only had 4 people waiting in it.  unbeknownst to me, the lady in front of my had 2 carts of food.  once she finally proceeded to check out, she had over $275 of groceries.  there were so many groceries on the check-out stand that it backed up all the way to the part of the stand where you set the food down.  the bagger was so swamped that the cashier had to help bag the food as well in order to speed up the process.  in all, even after paying, i would say that the 2 baggers took about 6 minutes to bag all of the food, put it back in the carts, and send the lady on her way.  once she was finally done and it was my turn to checkout, the cashier repeatedly said, "i'm so sorry that took so long.  i hope you found everything ok today--we'll try to get you on your way much faster."

these two scenarios could easily become one of those far-too-common memes that have been raping facebook lately.  i would summarize the two separate apologies as follows:

first world problems.

i'd like to introduce a segment i call "REALLY?!" with ahmed.

really, taco bell guy?  you're apologizing for giving me food at an affordable price with only a 20 minute wait? that's like apologizing that the prescription medicine the doctor gave me took 24 hours to work.  wait, it did exactly what it was supposed to.

and really, you're going to think it was such a hassle for me to sit in my car for an extended period of time?  do you know how many millions of people on earth went without food that night?  really.  it's in the millions.  and really?  spending $5 on what was legitimately 2000+ calories is something i shouldn't have to wait for?  i didn't realize how many billions of people either didn't get 2000 calories in their day, had to pay an exorbitant amount for their food, or either couldn't afford food altogether.  when faced with those realities, i'll gladly wait 20 minutes, for $5 worth of my daily calories.

and really grocery store cashier?  you're going to apologize that i can buy 2 weeks worth of food at an affordable price any time of day at my convenience with ease and the knowledge that this food is not only safe, but also healthy?  you're right, that's something that needs to be apologized over.  really.  i've seen slumdog millionaire.  i really know that there are countless millions of people who have to sift through garbage, walk miles upon miles, or eat contaminated food never knowing when or from where their next meal may come.  really?  you're going to apologize for the fact that i can get any food from any part of the world, take it home in my personal vehicle, put it in a fridge that will keep it good for days upon days, and utilize a stove, oven, or microwave to cook it properly?  that's like apologizing that i have to share the air i breathe with the boy who was bagging my groceries because it is too readily available for only my use.

i guess the point i am trying to make is that we are so incredibly blessed to be living in a world in which we are afforded the luxury of having anything we want at our fingertips at any given time.  so often we take this for granted.  so often we fail to recognize that millions--nay, billions--are in a much more compromising position than ours.  and it doesn't just stop with food.  religious persecution, political freedom, healthcare, education, income potential, job availability--truthfully, those are just the tip of the iceberg.  we have it so good.  i have a job, an education, a shelter, a working vehicle, the right to believe whatever ideological, political, or theological slant i want, and countless other liberties that are unknown in many other parts.

i guess apologizing for the wait just doesn't tug at my heartstrings.  not apologizing for those who do have to wait?  that does bother me just a little.  really.