Monday, November 26, 2012

Something an Old/Weird Cashier Did

A few weeks ago something happened at Macys that I keep thinking about. I was checking out as per usual and my checker (oldish ladyish) was cheerful and kept saying, "A little bit of this a little bit of that. . . "

She had said it to the person in front of me, too. So then I went through and she started to say it to me in a sing-song voice, "A little bit of this. A little bit of that!" Though I was game for a reference, joke, song, or whatever--It became unnerving.

I guess she was referring to the miscellany of the groceries? I smiled and nodded. I thought to myself, is she quoting that Fatboy Slim song where Christopher Walken dances? Because if she is, that would be awesome. But those lyrics are, "You can go with this or you can go with that." So probably not.

I Googled it to see if it was from some well-known 40s era big band tune but I only found a Santana song, and not a good one.

I keep thinking about it because it seems like I should know or be able to find out what she was saying or singing and why. But I can't. So I'm wondering, could it have just been a spontaneous commentary on the groceries? Well, we know it wasn't because she said it to the person in front of me as well. It was a practiced phrase. She said it with enthusiasm and an inquiring smile as if to nudge me and ask, "You get why I'm saying this, right?!" I smiled and nodded as if I absolutely did.

I just wish I could be more fully in on her glee and also I dread the thought of myself leaving people puzzled when I'm a senior citizen cashier and I think it's funny to bag the Secret deodorant be all, "Is it secret? Is it safe?" I will be inscrutable to everyone.

Interesting side note: If you Google "senior citizen cashier" you get a a surprising number of images of Paul Ryan. I guess he likes to manhandle them.

15 comments:

  1. Are you talking about Elaine?

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  2. This tells me that you shop early in the day.

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  3. I don't know what it means that I know this, but isn't it from Fiddler on the Roof? It keeps going 'a pot, a pan, a broom, a hat.' Maybe she was raised with showtunes loving parents like I was...

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    1. It's kind of a lot more dreary than her rendition.

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  4. The song is Anatevka from Fiddler on the Roof.

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  5. Thank you, Julie. That is very helpful.

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  6. Or maybe it's the chicken dance?

    Somewhere I heard that song with lyrics which said "with a little bit of this and a little bit of that and shake your bum!"

    Sorry, I can't find a youtube . . .

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  7. Never ask youtube for a wikipedia answer
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_Dance

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  8. I look forward to puzzling people when I'm a senior citizen. Isn't driving people crazy The best parts of being old?

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  9. Ha. I work with old people, so I hear these random sayings all the time. Never gets old!

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  10. Could it have been "Recipe for Making Love" by Harry Connick Junior? The lyrics are a little different, but it has a 40's big band type feel.

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  11. I go with Fiddler on the Roof.

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  12. Kacy, EVERY time one of my kids ask me to keep something safe for them, I yell in their face, "Is it secret? Is it safe?!" I've done it to some adults, too, and they don't always catch it, sadly.

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  13. 'FO REAL YO!

    I wish there was audio record in the comment section because right this very second I guarantee I'm singing it just like she was. I totally know that tune.

    Now what the heck is it from????

    I'll get back to you on that.

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