|
WyrdRich -> 9/14: A strange tale (9/11/2006 5:21:27 PM)
|
At the time of the 9/11 attack, I was working in a party supply store in Southern CA. Our big focus was on Halloween but we were there year round and one of the few places left that actually warehoused merchandise. We knew there was going to be a demand for patriotic stuff after the initial shock of events wore off, so I spent the day bringing down all the 4th of July merchandise we had just finished putting away upstairs.
Wednesday and Thursday were slow but on Friday, September 14th, all hell broke loose as people came to buy an expression of their sentiment. We did more individual sales on that day than in the history of the store. By 2 in the afternoon, we were the last establishment within 100 miles of Los Angeles with US flags in stock and at least 3 radio stations were advertising us as public service. And by that time, my cynicism had reached an all time high.
There was no 'unity' in that mob. Patriotism was merely the fad of the day. Twice, I broke up fights in our narrow aisles over the last of a particular item. One particular a**hole sticks clearly in my mind. We sold out of 3'x5' flags around 4 and he showed up at 4:30. Unable to get what he was after, he chose to vent his frustration at me. He needed a 'blanking' flag for his 'blankety-blank' house. I asked how long he had owned it. He said "eight years" and I responded that he should have bought a 'blanking' flag a long time ago. "Patriotism" was running so high that day I was selling French flags to idiots who figured red/white/blue was all the same anyway.
On the way home that night, I saw a group of teenagers with a flag they had obviously stolen, walking along, dragging it along the ground.
So, where is your flag?
|
|
|
|
