The Slice: Door dings, inept bagging got best of us

I hardly ever hear about door dings and cans on the bananas anymore.

Years ago, a week would not go by without at least a couple of conversations with readers about drivers who smack their doors into the vehicle beside them in parking lots. And I was also certain to hear complaints about grocery-sacking ineptness. You know, putting heavy stuff on top of bread, et cetera.

So that raises a question. Have these annoyances ceased to be part of daily life in Spokane?

I think we all know the answer to that: No.

Certain people still open their car doors in parking lots as if blowing the hatch on a space capsule. It would never occur to them that the edge of their door thudding into another vehicle wouldn’t be good for someone’s paint job.

And the same goes for grocery bagging. Most store employees are careful and do a fine job. But there are still a few inattentive dolts unacquainted with logic, reason and the idea that you don’t put a jar of pickles on top of tomatoes.

So why don’t people call me to complain anymore?

I think a lot of us have just given up.

Our expectations of others have gotten so low that now stupid, inconsiderate behavior almost fails to register. We don’t like it, to be sure. But we’ve stopped being surprised by it.

Of course, another explanation might be that readers simply grew weary of seeing references to those topics in The Slice.

“There’s always next year: Once upon a time, summer seemed to offer limitless possibilities.

The list of potential places to go and things to do was as long as a beach towel.

But now, with the shadow of September looming over the near horizon, we have to face facts. There won’t be time to do it all.

It’s natural for that realization to sink in with a melancholy sigh. But here’s a thought.

Fall, deservedly, is a lot of people’s favorite season. And if you are one of those folks, maybe you are about to have an autumn to surpass all autumns.

“One theory: A colleague suggested that references to Spokane (and Interstate 90) on I-5 signs in the Seattle area might be one explanation for why so many people assume the Lilac City is near Seattle.

Hmmm. Could be. And yet, I can’t quite let go of my belief that the real reason is American’s breathtaking ignorance when it comes to geography.

“Slice stat: I’m guessing 27 percent of all Inland Northwest men simply don’t get the appeal of picnics.

“Adam Morrison’s hometown: “Smokehan” - Charlotte Bobcats Web site

“Today’s Slice question: What Inland Northwest college instructor has had inappropriate intimate relations with the greatest number of students?