Not like the old days|Ikke som i gamledager

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][lang_en]gillette2I stood behind an old man the other day when I did some shopping. He asked for a pack of razor blades and the cashier had to go find it. She got 3 different packages of Gillette and asked the man which one he needed.

The old man stared at the packages and stood there thinking a few minutes, he apparently had no idea which he needed. I had plenty of time so I just smiled carefully when the cashier looked at me, probably to check how I felt about waiting, I just felt sorry for the old man. Especially when he finally pointed at one of them and slowly gave the cashier a 50-note (About $7).

The cashier told the man that it cost 160 NOK (about $24) for that package (it is the cheapest one!), the old man had problems catching it and the cashier had to point at the display. He slowly looked in his wallet and started to look for money, he had problems opening it and asked the cashier to help him. The cashier looked at me again, I just smiled – I still had plenty of time. The people behind me changed queue.

She found a 200 note (about $29) and carefully picked it up from the wallet and showed it to the old man, he looked at the cash-display and nodded. He got the cash return and moved slowly away. It got me wondering how long it was since buying razor blades, even I can’t remember when it was under a 50 note. And if it was that long ago I bet the blades he bought doesn’t fit his shaver. I felt more sorry for him and wished there was something we could do to help him.

When I payed and packed the stuff I bought I saw him again on the parking lot, he was moving slowly towards a car. A brand new SUV. That was a bit surrealistic, I pictured him driving a SAAB from ’67. Then I wondered, is it safe that an old man like that drives a car, he didn’t appear very ‘awake’. Oh well, I hoped he got home safe and wished him good luck with the shaving – not out loud.[/lang_en][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][lang_nb-no]gillette2Jeg stok bak en gammel mann i køen på Rema her om dagen. Han spurte etter barberblader og holdt opp en 50-lapp. Damen i kassen fortalte at han måtte gå rundt hjørnet hvor det sto et stativ med barberblader.

Han forsto ikke det helt og etter litt gestikulering gikk hun heller selv og fant frem 3 forskjellige pakker. Mannen studerte pakkene nøye, jeg tror ikke han kjente noen av dem igjen. Jeg hadde godt med tid så da damen i kassen så på meg så smilte jeg bare. Etter mye om og men pekte han på en av pakkene og gav henne 50-lappen. 163 koster den sier damen, 163. Den gamle mannen fikk det ikke helt med seg, eller var i sjokk, han så bare spørrende på henne.

Til slutt pekte hun på displayet hvor prisen sto. Da tok han opp lommeboken og begynte å lete. Alt gikk i saktefilm, han beveget seg som om han skulle befinne seg på månen. Kan du hjelpe meg med å se om jeg har en hundrelapp spurte mannen, så begynte hun å lete i lommeboken. Hun så bakover i køen igjen, jeg hadde fortsatt god tid så jeg smilte forsiktig. De andre bak meg byttet kø. Hun fant en 200-lapp og viste den til mannen, han så ned i lommeboken igjen, og så på displayet. Til slutt nikket han bare.

Jeg lurer på hvor lenge siden det er siden sist han kjøpte barberblader. Jeg kan ikke huske at det noen gang har kostet under 50-lappen. Jeg syntes synd på mannen, tipper han kom hjem og fant ut at bladene ikke passet høvelen i det hele tatt.

Da jeg hadde betalt og pakket varene traff jeg på mannen igjen, han gikk over parkeringsplassen mot en helt ny SUV – det var ganske surrealistisk. Egentlig hadde jeg sett for meg at han kjørte en Saab fra ’67, eller ikke kjørte i det hele tatt for å si det ærlig. Han virket ikke helt frisk og rask. Burde han kjøre i det hele tatt? Jaja tenkte jeg og håpet at han kom seg trygt hjem. Og inni meg ønsket jeg ham lykke til med barberingen.
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Øyvind Lasse Høysæter

Born in 1971, fell in love with computing in 1983 because of Sinclair's masterpieces. Continued on the magic surrounding the C64, Amiga and moved to the PC world in 1990. Loves science fiction, programming, astronomy, my family and my job. (developer) :)

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8 Responses

  1. Tom sier:

    I really think that the elderly need to have their driving skills tested annually.

    Tom’s last blog post..Friday Photo

  2. Nicole sier:

    Driving a new car and not knowing what shavers he needs and not knowing the prizes.
    That’s surreal.
    I feel sorry for old people these days.
    I just wondered about all the English words that are used on German television these days. Old people won’t know what on earth the guys on TV are talking about. 🙁

    @Tom
    I’m actually for everyone having a test let’s say every two years.
    When the car needs to go for the government inspection (TUEV) they should test the car owners.

    Nicole’s last blog post..Let me take you for a walk

  3. hi Øyvind,
    Strange story… thanks for sharing it. It’s good you had the time to wait in line so that it didn’t bother you. I seem to always pick the slowest line at the story, and it does bother me! I too would have felt sorry for this man, and I’m afraid the blades won’t work. But it would have been strange to see the new SUV. Very strange… ~ Steve, the trade show guru

    Steve, trade show guru’s last blog post..Do Trade Show Giveaway Pens Work?

  4. Hehe not many people are as patient as you 🙂

    I’ve been using electric shavers for years now so yeah, it’s been a while for me too to buy razor blades

  5. Ah, that touched my heart. I hope he is able to get the blades into the razor without hurting himself.

    Daisy the Curly Cat’s last blog post..Photo Hunters: Warm

  6. Tom sier:

    Good idea Nicole – get the car tested and get yourself tested. Now what was the number for Japan’s Prime Minister again?

    Tom’s last blog post..Friday Photo

  7. Ohio Realtor sier:

    You’re the sweetest Norwegian ever! Such a random and yet compelling read…

    Sometimes I forget to stop by and read your posts (everyones). You have to nudge me occasionally… I always like what you have to say. Thanks for the strangely placed smile… I swear I was there standing next to you in line.

    Ohio Realtor’s last blog post..Your Personalized Housing Horoscope

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