Not the end of the world.

So, I was in Target yesterday fighting through the holiday mayhem. And why I punished myself this way, I do not know. Just know that I did because there was a really good sale on this Nikon camera and I am looking to have a camera other than my iPhone (which, okay, has been very good to me.)

But.

Me, I take a lot of pictures of my family and my life so was thinking that for a cool $99 off of the original price, these pictures of my family and my life could be even better. Yeah. So I was in Target and there were people on top o' people on top o' people up in that piece. And even for me--a sho nuff and bona fide Target maestro--this almost had me feeling a bit Santa Claus-traphobic. 

Almost.

Wait. Santa Claus-traphobic? Ha. I just came up with that. Damn, I'm witty.

Anyways. This nice young mop-topped dude was helping me in the midst of the mayhem. And he was flustered because he couldn't find the sale camera in stock despite the fact that his hand held stock-checking-thingie said they had three. So he looked. And looked. And fretted. And looked some more.

And me? I was just chilling in the middle of the mayhem. Watching people get all riled up and agitated over video games and iPhone accessories. Thinking, "Y'all really need to calm yo' asses down and take it down about two point five notches. For reals." (And I wrote it just like that because that really is exactly how I was thinking it.)

Mmmmm hmmm.

So finally, mop-top dude goes off into the bowels of Target to scout out said stock. As soon as he comes around the corner, I see his face and know the verdict. 

It's a bust.

"I just don't understand it!" he fretted some more. "It says we have three but I can't find them in the cabinet or in the stock room. Ma'am, I am sooooooo sorry. So, so, so, so sorry."

Damn. So, so, so, so sorry? Four sorrys? Mop-top might need to bring it down a notch, too.

I smiled at him and shrugged. "Sir. It's okay--really." Because it was okay. And not being able to get a camera on sale at my neighborhood Target did not warrant that kind of vehement apology.

"Ma'am, I really want to help you. I do!" And I could tell that Mop-top meant that.  "Here is a list of other stores with them in stock.Uggghh. I'm just so sorry."

"Sir," I said, "It's not the end of the world."

He had already printed out the other-store list and was handing it to me. It had all the area Targets that allegedly carried the $99 off Nikon in their stock. It also had the date on top: 

December 21, 2012.

"I take that back," I added, "It just might be the end of the world."

Mop-top looked at the printout and immediately got my joke. I saw his shoulders relax a bit and his expression lighten. 

I raised my eyebrows.

"Well, I was gonna give you a raincheck. But on second thought, you might not need it."

I threw my head back and laughed. He did, too. "I'll take my chances. And I'll take the raincheck."

So I left. Knowing that even with my Target raincheck in hand  that I may not ever get the $99 off Nikon camera. And you know what? Turns out it wasn't the end of the world.

Literally and figuratively, it was not.

I do admit, though, that before I left, I told Mop-top's manager that he was great and very helpful. You know--just in case it really had been the end of the world.

Heh.

***

Happy December 22.