Traditionally, people “give up something” for Lent.
It is now the second week of Lent. During this introspective season, we are encouraged to observe the season by fasting and self-examination.
Clearly, the customer in front of me recently at a late afternoon Walmart checkout didn’t get the memo.
I only go to a grocery store to buy sweet tea, soup and bananas. That just would not do for this woman.
As I approached the self-checkout area, I realized the stations were all busy. So naturally, I walked to the register checkout counter where there was no line — or so I thought.
As I approached, I saw a woman sitting in one of those powered scooters with her cart brimming with groceries.
Her substantial haul contained predominantly pies, sodas, snack foods, ice cream, mini-cakes and other convenience store junk food. I might have seen a loaf or two of white bread, but definitely pork chops and chicken.
The groceries, heavy on processed foods and sweets, added up quickly.
If you can believe it, the cashier engaged in light conversation with the obese woman about her purchases while customers waited. By this time, I was frustrated.
When it came time for her to pay, she opened her brown LV tote bag and retrieved a thick stack of benefit cards bound together by several rubber bands.
Some cards aided in reducing the grocery bill, but several were declined outright. That didn’t faze her; she just pulled out another card.
After cycling through the stack, there remained a balance of nearly $200. Undeterred, she pulled out four pristine $50 bills, crisp as if from the bank.
The balance was now paid, and she left in the scooter.
My patience had been tested as I stood there thinking about what had just happened: the purchases, her bad health and the SNAP program.
I overheard a customer say this is not an isolated incident.
I don’t think she will have time for fasting or self-examination this season.