Om Mani Padme Hum

I stood in line at my local Borders store on Sunday, along with 50 other literature loving people. While quietly looking at the back of my new book, a man who was being checked out started to speak. Loudly.

"Excuse me, sir (to the manager) I don't understand why you sell gift cards with a Hanukkah symbol on it, but there are NO cards with Christmas symbols."

My first reaction was to tuck my head down and roll my eyes. I mean, COME ON! Everyone has a problem today.

That lady over there couldn't find any Precious Moments calendars. This woman is complaining that the Humane Society isn't here to wrap the books yet, as advertised. That guy is trying to find a store in another state that his cousin can go to, if he purchases the gift card. The older couple behind me can't understand why Kathy Lee Gifford isn't putting out a Christmas album this year.

Then, as I made my way to the counter, I started to change my mind. He was absolutely right. There were no Christmas cards. The closest they came to one was a card with a penguin wearing a Santa hat standing next to a quasi-Christmas tree.

I felt bad for the manager who had no answer to the man. I also felt proud of that man for standing up for something he thought needed to be said. Maybe he wasn't even Christian.

I should've said something about the lack of Kwanzaa cards.