What planet are you from?!

That's the look I received when I told the clerk, 2 of them to be exact, that I did not want the plastic bag.

My first experience was at Brookshire's. All I had was a couple of Roma tomatoes, a potato, and some laundry detergent. My tomatoes were in a plastic bag so I asked the cashier to add the potato to the bag after she weighed it... an additional plastic bag was not necessary. As I'm writing my check, she proceeds to but the 2 tomatoes plus my one potato in another plastic bag. Hello? So, I take my 3 items out of the plastic bag, leave it with the cashier, and head out. I never thought requesting to NOT have a bag could be so difficult... I was about to find out just how difficult...

Next stop.... Wal-Mart... which by the way, I'm really beginning to dislike this store! First, it's at Wal-Mart where my stolen debit card was used... and now, the cashier can't even honor a simple request of mine. Anyway, I actually bring my own canvas bag into the store with me to ensure that I don't get a plastic bag at checkout. Oddly enough, I found out this practice helps in me not buying more crap than I need because I can only fit so much into my canvas bag. So, I get to checkout with the hopes of having a better experience with my request. No such luck! The cashier bags my items into 3 separate Wal-Mart bags. I then ask, "I'm sorry, I thought I mentioned that I didn't need a plastic bag because I have my own bag to place my items in?" She then follows with, "I heard you. You said you didn't want a bag." What?! And you still put them in the bag?! Give me a break people!! Is it so hard to believe that somebody doesn't want a million of those freaking plastic bags laying around the house?! So, of course, I take my items out of the plastic bags, place them into my 1 bag, and give her the bags back..... which she then tosses into the trash can!

I can't control what others say or do. I can manage how I choose to live my life. So, I'll keep tackling the baggers & checkers by bringing my own bag in... continue to do my part for this place we call Earth. I know it's going to be here for awhile... but that doesn't mean we should turn our backs to the things that we can do right now to make things better. I'd like to believe that future generations will not be left to deal with our overconsumption & waste of today.

So, that's my experience of getting out there with my 1 bag in my little town of Nacogdoches, Texas.... I trust the next time will be better. Is it so odd to NOT want a bag?