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All I'm asking is for a little accountability

Derrick Pacheco<br | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 15 years, 12 months AGO
by Derrick Pacheco<br
| July 20, 2009 9:00 PM

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.

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ARTICLES BY DERRICK PACHECO<BR

May 28, 2009 9 p.m.

Chambers named NAIA All-American

Moses Lake grad receives award

LIBERTY, Mo. — After leading the William Jewell College girls tennis team to an 11-8 record and a second-place finish in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, 2007 Moses Lake graduate Nikki Chambers was named a 2008-2009 honorable mention All-American.

March 2, 2009 8 p.m.

ACH finishes third

ACH 59Cusick 46

YAKIMA, Wash. — Second-ranked Almira/Coulee-Hartline never trailed Saturday and the Warriors claimed the third-place trophy at the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association 1B boys state tournament with a 59-46 win over Cusick.

June 1, 2009 9 p.m.

Chamberlain sets state record

Prep track recaps

TACOMA, Wash. —— Ephrata senior Wes Chamberlain wrapped up his high school career at the 2A state track meet in Tacoma, Wash., over the weekend by capturing his third state championship in the pole vault — breaking his own state record in the process.