Blame

I'm feeling a little philosophical today, so be warned.

It's a funny thing, blame. What keeps us from taking responsibility for our own actions and instead place it on other people, circumstances, or reaction?

I was in Michaels today and while walking down a main aisle, a man knocked over a bucket with fake flowers into my aisle not 5 feet in front of me. What did he do? What did I do?

Him: Looked at the flowers on the floor, looked at me, looked at the flowers again.
Me: Thought to myself, "I'll help him pick up the flowers."
Me: Bent down to put them back in the bucket.
Him: Went back to shopping.
Me: Looked up a man not helping me pick up the flowers that he knocked off. (I'm betting there was a look invovled, but since I didn't see it, I can't be positive.)
Him said to Me: "I don't work here."
Me back at Him: "Well sir, neither do I, but they still fell in the middle of the aisle and need to be picked up."
Him: Finally bends down to help pick up the flowers that he knocked off! Also mumbles something incoherent.
Me: Finishes up with the flowers, puts it back on the display.
Him: "Are you going to be able to finish shopping now in peace?"

Now, I don't know if attitude comes through via blog, but let me tell you, for his response I was as sweet as a...well...flower as I said, "Yes, thank you" and walked away to check out.

For those of you who knew me growing up, I constantly had what my mom called an "attitude problem." So okay, better make that sweet as a Michaels fake flower.

Ummm...but it's not my fault! He's the one who didn't care to clean up his own mess! And he degraded the Michaels employees!

Oh well, ummm, for the part of my attitude, can I chalk that conversation up to PMS? Oh okay, fine! I take full resposibility for my actions and tone of my voice. (sigh) I apologize, Random-Michaels-Customer-Who-Is-Too-Good-To-Pick-Up-Your-Own-Mess.

Oh well...I tried.