All I'm asking is for a little accountability

There are some things that just drive me up the wall.

Wearing socks with sandals, Velcro, and Dr. Suess illustrations.

But whatever happened to the social niceties I once came to expect?

The other day I was at the grocery store. I grabbed a few items and casually walked to the front of the store.

As I glanced at each register, I looked for one that would afford me the opportunity to return to my bachelor pad as soon as possible to watch the Mariners game.

I only grabbed a few items for dinner, maybe four or five, and I walked to the shortest line.

As I approached the register to get in line, I was nearly run over by a customer with a full shopping cart screaming into a cellphone.

Rather than allow me to go ahead of her with some salmon, some vegetables and a gallon of milk, I nearly became one with the magazines at the check stand.

The two of us stood looking at each other for a moment.

I glanced in the stranger’s cart, packed to the brim. I surveyed the basket in my hand. I attempted to place the items from my list onto the conveyer belt before being informed by the shopping cart-weilding maniac that I should make my way to the express lane.

The stranger began pushing my items out of the way to make room for their items.

I looked at the customer dumbfounded. I made my way around the cart for my items before the teller informed the stranger I was in line first.

I thanked the teller for her help, paid for my groceries and made my way out of the store, but not before the stranger attempted to ruin another’s day by throwing a fit when approaching the teller.

I guess I’ll chalk my unfortunate incident up to being a passive member of the Me-Generation.

Everywhere I look it’s all about “me.”

I don’t understand the incessant need for selfishness.

What’s with the constant need for a cellphone?

Don’t get me wrong, I have and use one.

I need it to stay contacted with my family. I talk to my parents almost daily.

I have it in case there is an emergency while driving through the Columbia Basin.

I don’t have it to use while in public, screaming the contents of my conversation for everyone within earshot of me.

Social niceties are disappearing at an alarming rate and as a nice, decent guy I for one am concerned.

I’m not asking for much, just help to slow the decay of social niceties.

Derrick Pacheco is the Columbia Basin Herald sports editor.