Back to School Shopping in a New Age Pharmaceutical Church
Pardon my exhaustion, but my kids are back in school, and I was the custodial parent who helped them shop for school supplies. For some genius reason, our local school district decided mid-August was a great time to open the fall term. That’s seven to ten days earlier than usual, and the stores were barely ready to sell supplies.
This meant every school kid and his parent was packed into Office Depot and Longs buying supplies on the same night. Oy!
It was so congested, we couldn’t park our car, let alone bear to face the long lines inside. Instead, we drove to Target, which was further away and far less crowded. Only problem, the store was lacking key items. For instance, plain-covered binders were nowhere to be seen. Some kids (like my teen son) refuse to be seen carrying a binder covered with photos of the Jonas Brothers or Miley Cyrus. (Can you blame them?)
In a coup of coups, we headed over to Rite Aid. The place was empty! Not only that, it was loaded with every school supply we needed. (I suppose people think of Rite Aid for First Aid, not binders and pens. Whatever!)
The atmosphere was genuinely soothing, partly due to music playing throughout the store. Acoustic guitars, electric keyboards, violins, tambourines, drums played with brushes instead of sticks. It was almost like muzac accompanying a woman singing.
Except for one thing: the lyrics were all about God.
WTF? This was Rite Aid, not a New Age Pharmaceutical Church!
Imagine the dulcet tones of a woman’s voice drifting through the drug store. Something like this (I don’t remember the actual words, so these are made up):
God, you are so wonderful
You are love and all that is good
You are the shepherd and I am your flock
In you I place my trust and faith
I’m thinking, who sanctioned Jesus music in a non-denominational store? I figured the manager had to be mega-Christian and a bit of a nut. (Not that all mega-Christians are nutty. But given the circumstance, that phrase seems appropriate.) Look, I don’t care what religion a person subscribes to, but please don’t ram it down my throat, especially in a drugstore.
Then I realized the woman wasn’t singing about Jesus, she was singing about God, and somehow that made it okay. In fact, I let myself take comfort that our school-supply shopping needs were being met. Maybe God played a part in that. Who knows? Now I feel nutty. (Sister Mary, price check on register ten.)
At any rate, it was a godly night for binder buying. We found just what we needed, and avoided all the crowds.
Amen!
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Comment by Ginger Magnolia
| August 20th, 2009
Seriously! What is it with all the Disney tween crap?! Even my 8-year-old doesn’t want it, blech!
Ginger Magnolia´s last blog ..Senor Fussypants
Comment by Andrea
| August 20th, 2009
Ah School supplies that IS so much fun to buy for. In the past few years we’ve had to search out a gym kit, waterproof gym kit, house shoes, non-marking non outdoor gym shoes, outdoor gym shoes, slippers and a lunchox. This was the first actual year we had to buy pens, pencils, markers and the like. (Welcome to America I guess??)
At any rate after searching every store on the planet (or so it seemed) I gave up trying to find this “bopp” folder they asked for. Instead when we went to drop off some forms at school I politely asked where I could find a “bopp” folder. It turns out it’s not a folder, it’s the name of the second grade teacher and she was the one who wanted a plain colored folder. The second teacher didn’t require one.
Ah, so yes, I love back to school shopping! It’s so much fun.
Andrea´s last blog ..Writers Workshop with Mama Kat!
Comment by Me Thinks
| August 20th, 2009
I loathe school supply shopping! I actually had the list for 2 months but – you guessed it – waited until the day before. I went before lunch, wasn’t too busy so I dodged a bullet.
I’d be sort of bent out of shape over the Christian music. Once I was at a gas station and while the pump was running I noticed the banner “information” saying something like “Thank you for your business, God bless you!” Blech. Last time I get gas there! But I think drugstore jesus is dangerous, what happens if you someone asks for something religiously controversial like Plan B?
Comment by Paula
| August 20th, 2009
The music would have forced me from the store. UGH.
We homeschooled our kids (in an ultra liberal, active in the community, pro-evolution, anti-textbooks way). We never had to buy new school clothes or supplies on date X. It was great.
Paula´s last blog ..Satans Spawn Visits the Garden
Comment by Just Me..
| August 20th, 2009
Not at all in a twist about the music..
And lucky that our PTA provides each kid with the ‘teacher required’ school supplies.. All I had to buy were new clothes/shoes, a backpack and a Trapperkeeper!!
However, her first year of school, we got ‘the list’ at registration. It read like a wish list.. I’m certain that teacher is still using the 75 boxes of Kleenex she received that year!!!
Just Me.. ´s last blog ..Nothing at all…
Comment by debra
| August 20th, 2009
Though I’m still convinced I can buy the endless list of supplies cheaper, our old school district offered the opportunity to buy a kit with everything in it your teacher required. Fundraiser for the PTA, sanity fairy for parents.
Comment by MindyMom/Single Mom Says...
| August 20th, 2009
Good call on going to Rite Aid for the supplies! Weird about the music though. Ugh. What’s funny is I doubt I would have noticed as I’m usually pretty oblivious to what’s going on around me when I’m focused on something else.
Maybe the manager was a zealot or maybe he just hit the wrong channel by mmistake? I think we’re all probably guilty of making mistakes and being insensitive at times – even when we don’t mean to be. I know I am, and upon refelction feel awful.
MindyMom/Single Mom Says…´s last blog ..Single Mom Soul Vacation Part 2
Comment by Ditz
| August 20th, 2009
I don’t have parenting time on the first day, so I am not buying their supplies, except those that we will use at home. Dad can step up to the plate this year. I will be doing some teen daughter clothing shopping this weekend, please say a prayer for my wallet!
Comment by CJ
| August 20th, 2009
Hmmm, as VP of the PTA, I’m likin’ that fundraiser idea of selling the back to school items in a kit! Although…does that mean I’ll have to shop for more kids than just my own??? EEEEEEK! On second thought, maybe I should just keep my mouth shut :)
CJ´s last blog ..Four-day weekend from hell…..
Comment by T
| August 20th, 2009
Yep, our PTA does the same thing. We’ll be picking up our packaged kit of supplies tonight when we meet the teacher.
Strange about the music. Was there a big church nearby? I know around here, the big churches are usually in a neighborhood of people who attend. Of course, I am in the Bible Belt…
T´s last blog ..Like budduh
Comment by krn
| August 20th, 2009
Dad’s, this sounds like a Twilight Zone experience. LOL. It got me thinking that perhaps a bored employee was up to some silliness or someone had a dare going on? Are you sure it wasn’t a dream? ;) I’m glad you found the binders your son needed and had a relaxing shopping trip in the end.
We’re fortunate that we pay an annual supply fee in lieu of each family shopping individually. No mad dash to find supplies at the last minute here. It would take a lot to create a shopping frenzy in this laid back community. People are so nice they’d be passing the binders down the aisle to the dad who couldn’t find any parking. In a way, the urban dweller in me is envious of the excitement of your trip. ;)
Comment by Danielle
| August 20th, 2009
Peace be with you!
Danielle´s last blog ..Eww, did you see that train wreck?
Comment by Sandra
| August 20th, 2009
I used to work at Staples, and we always were so busy for back to school season. The lines just would not stop. We lowered the prices on things like pencils, binders and binder paper, but still charged premium prices on everything else.
I used to be a Copy Center wench as well as a cashier bitch.
Sandra´s last blog ..What my blog has brought………
Comment by debra
| August 20th, 2009
CJ – our PTA found a company who produced the kits to their specifications, by grade level. The only work for the PTA was collecting orders, and then manning the pick up tables. Made a good bit of money, I believe.
Comment by BigLittleWolf
| August 20th, 2009
I wonder if that was one of the Rite Aids with the sex toys… Something for everyone.
BigLittleWolf´s last blog ..Dress my WHAT?
Comment by ZenMom
| August 20th, 2009
Hmmm, I think I’d prefer muzak.
ZenMom´s last blog ..Waitin’ for my letter from the Harper Valley PTA
Comment by Canadian Bald Guy
| August 20th, 2009
We’re fortunate up here. The schools will pass out lists of the supplies that are needed. Most of the drug stores in the.area will create ‘kits’ so parents can just pre-order everything and pick it up when ready.
Comment by A Girlfriend
| August 20th, 2009
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. They can play whatever they want.
Comment by CJ
| August 20th, 2009
I quite obviously live in the wrong place! Time to get the schools down here on to the “kit” train :) Thanks for the info!
CJ´s last blog ..Being single is not a curse.
Comment by notasoccermom
| August 21st, 2009
I fell into the same scenario while Christmas shopping.. ending up at rite-aid and finding exactly what i wanted.
But- no christian music… and at Christmas time haha
notasoccermom´s last blog ..Summer mountain air and great music – lets dance
Comment by Cheery-Wise
| August 23rd, 2009
I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t the “parent on duty” for school supplies! Target was stocked and bopping weeks ago. Dads, you are such a procrastinator! :)