The Right Equipment

I have been where he was. I sensed his discomfort. The uneasy laugh, indicating his frustration and his embarrassment, unsure which was greater. He was alone and none of the rest of us had the nerve to assist him. There really wasn't anything we could do. The aisle was pretty much empty though to him, everyone in WalMart was staring at him. Yes, he had the dreaded task of finding the right equipment. Sent on the errand for, more than likely, only one thing. That explained the few "odds and ends" that were spread in his cart. (He had to have something to hide the equipment.) I wanted to at least walk by him, a silent pat on the back, a nod of the head to let him know I was there with him but that was all I could offer. The first pass we made I heard him declare in desperation to the cell phone against his ear, and I quote, "There is one that says it has wings!?" I ushered Jodi out of the aisle as quickly as I could just to give him the needed privacy. She was giggling. I don't know if she was giggling more at him or thinking of me when I was performing the deed not so long ago. About 10 minutes later, we passed the aisle again and he was still standing there, defeated, shaking head hung low, holding two soft-sided boxes in either hand. Jodi informed me that she had seen him in the interim and said that he had hung up the phone once, for now the phone was up again, the poor soul trying to get the information that would allow him to walk proudly out of that aisle, task completed. Whether he ever made it home successfully last night, I do not know. He could have purchased about 5 different kinds just to be safe and made it home without the right one. Which leads me to a question. Why don't the women just shop for these things by themselves? Is there a secret camera in those aisles recording for the next reality TV show? I admire those men who leap out there in that realm where they know for certain, if they do succeed, they have embarrassed themselves beyond repair. Yet, we continue to go there and put ourselves through it because we love our women. I just hope that guy's wife said "thank you" when he got home. I hope he used it to build his relationship with his wife and he allowed his frustration to subside before he got home. His day was no better if he didn't return with the right attitude or the right equipment. I applaud us all!