[...] 11, 2007 by hydeslikeus I remember reading Jennifer’s post about what an asshole she had been, and thinking, “aw. Isn’t that so brave of her [...]

$8!

How long did you (allegedly) have the book out? 16 years??

Oh, BUT: it is so, so annoying when there are screw-ups like that. Our library tells us about every 2 months that we never returned a book, and then we go to the shelves and there it is, and we have to walk it over to the desk and hand it to them. This pisses us off SO BAD.

I know that “losing it” feeling. It’s like the thingie on a pressure cooker that suddenly lets the steam out.

Luckily my own pressure cooker has a safety valve: when I get too mad in public, I cry. And so before I yell, I leave so I won’t cry. But without the crying, I’d be yelling at cashiers too. And I yell afterward, in my mind.

I find that when I do lose it, the only thing to do is total, frank, look-in-the-eyes apology and admission of craziness. The first few words are so hard, but people usually soften almost immediately.

I used to work behind a register, and every time someone lost it with me over something that was not my fault, I remembered it PERMANENTLY, always with impotent rage (because I was too polite to fight back, and because usually it was so unfair). They’d come back the next week and act like nothing happened, and I didn’t know how they could do that unless they thought I wasn’t human. In ONE situation, though, the woman came back the next week and apologized to the whole staff, saying she’d been totally crazy and she didn’t know what the hell had come over her, and that she had been totally wrong and she was so sorry for being a bitch, and I was practically crying with love for her, and THAT’S what I remember.

Next week you HAVE to go back…the longer you wait the more awkward it will be. Apologize to the librarian you went postal on and act like it didn’t happen with the moms. (Unless they mention it…) If they do just tell them-”What the f— is wrong with you-CAN’T YOU JUST LET IT GO B–CH?!!”

That should solve the problem.

Signed-Dr. Joy Browne

Who hasn’t done that. Reading your post makes me think about the time I’ve done it. The heart pounding, gut wrenching moments. I once lost it with a used car salesman. He was so pushy – how cliche!

Awwww If this woman was in fact a woman, a mom, or has any understanding in her…she may have been annoyed, but hopefully understanding. As well as the other mommies! I know I wouldn’t hold it against you! In fact I would probably laugh with you about it later!

I wacked out once at a craft store that wouldn’t take an item back. I even suggested the cashier should be fired. Every time I think about that, I lost about a half-inch in height.