Why, I Never! Except That One Time...

So I took Loodle to McDonalds today for a wholesome lunch. By wholesome I mean, go play with other kids so I can feel better about napping while you were on the computer this morning.

As I sat outside in the play area eating my grilled chicken salad Big Mac and fries, I saw a girl open the door of her SUV, blow some smoke from her cigarette and casually knock a grocery bag full of trash out into the parking lot. I kept watching, and after a few moments, she got out and, casually again, kicked the bag under the van next to her. She looked around to see if anyone was watching, and I couldn't tell if she noticed me or not from across the parking lot.

Hmmm, what to do. My first instinct was to yell "Hey! There are trash cans right over here! Stop destroying our beautiful McDonald's with your filth!" However, I was in the middle of the play area and didn't want to startle the kids. I could get up, walk out to her and confront her, but I'd have to leave Loodle there by herself. Or I could sit in silent judgement.

Door #3 it is. I sat there fuming. What gall to throw a full bag of trash on the ground when you're right outside a restaurant that has lots of trash cans available. Sure, it's about 937 degrees out, but you can walk that far. You're young, and it'll do your nicotine clogged lungs some good.

Some people. As I sat and harrumphed to Judgy McJudgerson myself that I would NEVER do that, I suddenly remembered a particular outing at the mall in Los Angeles. I parked, foolishly, on the top deck of the parking structure on a blindingly hot day, and had one of the girls with me. She was a baby at the time, and as we made our way to the van to go home and nap, I smelled that smell we all recognize. Code brown, DefCon 1, a stinker has landed.

I got to the van and discovered it was everywhere: on her, her clothes and the stroller. I luckily had supplies to clean her up, wipe down the stroller and change her outfit. However, by the time all of this was completed, I was dripping in sweat, the baby was screaming bloody murder and I was done. I had shoved everything in a plastic bag and instead of dragging the baby out of her carseat and trying to find a trash can, I casually dropped it on the pavement next to the van, got in and drove away, never looking back.

I hadn't thought about that in quite a while, but I'm pretty sure God shoved it to the forefront to teach me a lesson.

STOP GOING TO McDONALDS.