Glenn Beck CPAC 2010 Keynote Speech—Specific Topics for All Americans

Glenn Beck was the keynote Speaker at the CPAC 2010 convention this year, and if you’d like, you can watch the entire speech at Ablur’s blog, where I watched it. Thanks Ablur!

Beck is very popular among Conservatives but not so with Liberals. You can find Beck’s speech deciphered all over the net by a lot of bloggers, authors and journalists, some positively, some not so favorably. I found a fair amount of what Beck had to say very sensible and think some of it is worth repeating.

Glenn Beck felt that, “...it’s not enough just to not suck as much as the other side”

Who can disagree with that! “Not sucking as much” isn’t BETTER, it’s just mediocre. This is a message that our Representatives NEED pounded into their heads. Who wants to SETTLE for mediocre? Certainly NOT me! Do you? Why would our Representatives? Why wouldn’t they want to be the absolute BEST that they can be? And more importantly, why aren’t MORE Americans demanding that our Officials be the BEST?

Beck went on to say that he was a recovering alcoholic and that he believes in redemption. I do too, by the way. Although I believe you must repent to those you’ve hurt. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks as long as you are truly sorry and make amends to those to whom you’ve caused grief. We’ve all screwed up, but, if we make amends, never do it again, and atone to those we hurt, I feel forgiveness is possible.

But what happens when it’s our Public Officials who are making the mistakes and causing the pain? Do they deserve forgiveness? Well, it’s my belief that if they admit to their mistakes and are truly remorseful, then yes, they should be forgiven. But do we have any Representatives who will actually stand up and tell us that they screwed up? Are any of our Representatives capable of remorse? Repentance? Or are they all too self-absorbed and “above us” to ever admit to anything, especially a major screw up?

Or as Beck said, “You are somebody who has said ‘Okay I’ll represent you’. Did you check your soul at the door? Make sure you hang onto your soul. Now if you are just like me, if you are just like the average every day person, you won’t lose your soul along with way. ”

He’s right. I didn’t lose my soul or check it at the door when I was in a position of power. I was in charge of hundreds of employees and I didn't "lose my way”. I conducted myself in an honorable manner as I was the role model. If my subordinates saw me behaving less than honorably what would stop them? Our Officials are role models but yet they don’t conduct themselves honorably. Why should Americans be honest on their taxes when we have a bunch of tax cheats in Public Office? Or put in an honest day’s work when our Officials aren’t working 40 or 50 hours per week yet getting paid a lot more than the average American and on OUR dime! Why should WE worry about a balanced budget or the deficit when Congress is on a spending spree that would put a drunken sailor on shore leave to shame—yet we’ve cut back on everything from movie tickets to haircuts! These people are out of control but they preach to US about fiscal responsibility. We NEED politicians in DC who will reflect decency, integrity and good moral character, plus NOT take advantage of us, our country or the position they hold.

Glenn said that he wasn’t sure what the definition of Conservatism was in America anymore, however, he knew what it meant to him. It meant “personal responsibility”. He and I couldn’t agree on something more. Also, if you’ve done something wrong then it’s up to YOU to pay the price. It’s up to YOU to make it right. Wouldn’t it have been great to have the CEO’s stand up and be “accountable” rather than have the American people “bail” their reckless butts out? That USED to be the American way. What the heck happened?

He said that people needed to stop jabbering about their childhoods. You know, he has a point. Personally I could “boo-hoo” about the nightmare of a childhood I endured, but I don’t, because everybody has a sob story. A bad childhood doesn’t give you the right to “bail-outs”, “hand-outs” or “opt-outs”. It’s over and done with; today is a new day and if you’re still “moaning” about your childhood then you’re using it as an excuse NOT to take “personal responsibility”.


Which leads me to Glenn’s point, “We have a right to fail. Without failure there is no growth.” Failure isn’t bad. I’ve had failure in my life and I’ll probably fail again. I’ve also had quite a few successes. It was my failures that made me strong. They taught me determination, self-discipline and courage. Without those I wouldn’t be the independent, brave, compassionate woman I am today. So, I’m thankful for my failures. If someone had bailed me out, how would I have learned a valuable lesson? Or take famous novelist John Grisham’s first novel, “A Time to Kill”, it was rejected by a dozen publishers and 16 agents before breaking into print and launching his career. Failure is only bad if we give up.

I’m with Beck 100% on this message, “This is America, there is no cap on success. There seems to be some sort of cap on willingness to search for success. That has to change in America. We have a different system here. We choose our own destiny. We choose. All men are created equal. All men will not end up equal. But all men are created equal. And in our daily choices that determines our outcome.”

There ISN’T a cap on success and it most definitely ISN’T limited. The only thing that is limited is our thought process. Many people have pulled themselves out of poverty to become extremely wealthy, although success isn’t only determined financially. For me success is determined by one’s level of happiness. [Achieve THAT and you have the world in the palm of your hand-- regardless of your W-2!] The message, however, is very clear—we are all equal, but we don’t all end up equal and that is due to our CHOICES. Again, don’t blame it on your childhood because a pleasant childhood doesn’t guarantee a good life just like an awful childhood doesn’t guarantee a bad life.

“We need an understanding that life is not fair. It is not fair. The bad guys sometimes wins. Sometimes OJ Simpson gets away with it. Sometimes the big banks fail. Sometimes the good banks fail. Not everybody gets a trophy. What is the point in competing for a trophy if everyone gets a trophy? Please stop teaching my children that everyone will get a trophy just for participating.”

Oh don’t get me started on giving trophies to everyone who participates! I find THAT practice not only ridiculous but damaging in more ways than one. We are teaching our youth that all you have to do is “show up” and you “win”. What kind of message is THAT? People need to realize that competition is healthy and not everybody wins. But it’s those who refuse to “give up” who eventually “win”. Again, everyone’s level of “success” is measured individually, but “participation” shouldn’t guarantee anything.


There are times when bad things happen to good people. There are times when we are victims of circumstance and sometimes life just happens and it’s JUST NOT FAIR. But guess what? We can wake up tomorrow and the sun will be out and we need to realize WE have the power to fix our OWN lives! We can make choices to alter our course, to alter our destiny and make a difference. Will this guarantee that bad things will never happen? No, of course not. But it will guarantee that OUR life and OUR destiny is in OUR hands and not the hands of someone else! I will be damned if I will hand my power over to someone else. I WANT the power over my own life. And anyone who doesn’t want that power has been brainwashed to believe that they have no power and THAT is shameful.

Glenn mentioned that, “People are losing a fundamental belief that it’s going to be better tomorrow than it is today.”

Of course they are. Our economy is in the tank. Unemployment is 10% and probably going to get higher. Inflation is sure to hit. Interest rates are low only because they are being held down on purpose. The housing industry is only doing as well as it is because of government intervention. But take those incentives away and what would happen? The economy is NOT getting better and I’ll go out on a limb and say that’s it’s going to take quite some time before it does. The price of everything from paper towels to ground meat has sky-rocketed but most salaries have not followed. People who have worked hard all their lives watched as their life savings was lost. They also watch as the Government spends their taxes frivolously with no regard for their future. We’re angry, frightened and disenfranchised. We have tightened our belts but Congress hasn’t. No, Congress has been doing business as usual and then some—all under the “guise” of “it’s best for our country”. That’s bull. Spending us into oblivion isn’t in our best interest. Congress states it can’t “cut” because everything is necessary. The first stimulus was necessary. This second stimulus is necessary—EVERYTHING Government does is NECESSARY—ever notice that? Yet we are bleeding through every vein, losing private sector jobs daily, BUT Government jobs are SAVED! Yippee! Tell that to the carpenters, hair stylists, waiters, car salesmen, technicians, secretaries and childcare workers, to name a few, who have been out of work for over a year and can’t find work and whose unemployment benefits have run out. Tell them how many jobs have been saved. They’ll tell you the government is full of it—and they are right. You NEED private sector jobs to pay for those “saved government jobs” and THAT is the FACT Jack.

I’m tired of the lies, the distortion of facts and the spin. I want honest people in Congress to tell me the truth—for once. We, as Americans, have the right to the truth. And by golly if they don’t start then we have every right to FIRE them! Forget the voting booths. These people aren’t “public servants” anymore—they are PAID employees! And we are their bosses! We have the RIGHT to fire them if they aren’t doing their job. You give me a list of those who are doing what is RIGHT, TRUE, HONEST and IN THE BEST INTEREST of our country and her people and I’ll get off my soap box…until then I will preach about the dishonesty of DC until the cows come home.

In closing, like or dislike Glenn Beck, he made some valid points in his speech. Personal responsibility shouldn’t be avoided and neither should failure as failure can lead us to our greatest success because success isn’t limited. We also need some optimism, which isn’t easy with what we’re faced with today. But it might help if our politicians were more honorable and decent and if they aren’t then we should be doing something about them—no more “status quo”. This is OUR country and we Americans need to take pride in her and make sure that everything our Representatives are doing is truly in the “best interest” of OUR country.

A Letter to Uncle Sam*

Dear Uncle Sam,

I know you’re busy, what with all your other nieces and nephews; but I wanted to write to let you know that lately, you’ve been on my mind and I’m compelled to write you. And you know me, when I’m compelled; nothing short of a natural disaster will dissuade me. Must’ve inherited that from dear old dad, eh?

The reason for my letter is really rather simple. I want to express my deepest appreciation to you of course, and all my other Aunts and Uncles there on Capitol Hill. I apologize for not getting up there for a visit. Working, raising children, taking care of ailing family members, my own health issues and other day to day activities just doesn’t leave much time for leisurely activities or vacations. Not to mention the expense. Gas, food, utilities, taxes, oh and my not getting a raise in awhile has left us cutting back in quite a few areas, so we can’t vacation again this year. Maybe next year, if this recession lets up. I hope you’re not too disappointed.

But I digressed. I want to say thank you, Uncle Sam. Thank you for all you’ve done for so many of my fellow Americans. Without you I don’t know where they’d be. You’ve made it possible for millions of people to survive! They have roofs over their heads, televisions with cable to watch the happenings in this great nation, utilities to keep them warm in the winter and cool in the summer, cell phones to call the authorities in case of an emergency, you provide them with down payments for cars so they can get to the grocery store where they can use the money you send them to purchase food or nonessentials like soda pop, cookies and chips and you provide them with free health care when they are sick or have an accident. You are so benevolent and selfless. My heart just swells when I think of all the compassionate things you do for so many who won’t do for themselves.


I also feel the necessity to thank you for the regulations and policies you’ve set for us Americans. We wear seat belts because you tell us it’s safe and if we don’t we pay a fine. That’s a good law, because we’re not intelligent enough to do this on our own. We have fire safety cigarettes now because we’re not responsible enough to make sure our cigarettes are snuffed out and our houses could burn down. This is such a relief. But, even if our house did burn down, you made sure we have rules in place that require home owner’s insurance because we aren’t smart enough to know this is a wise investment when we have a home, with or without a mortgage. I’m also relieved that you made laws to ensure we pay our taxes, even though many Aunts and Uncles on Capitol Hill, who are experts on the tax laws or even wrote them, hiccup or don’t understand the very codes they’ve written, don’t pay them. It’s an oversight, I’m sure, since Capitol Hill is such a busy place with so many so concerned with the welfare of us Americans. For example, when you give each other pay raises in the middle of the night while I’m sleeping. It’s so considerate of you not to bother me with such petty things like increasing your salaries while mine stay stagnant. After all, I’m taking sleeping pills to try and sleep because I’m under so much stress due to the stock market crash and losing half my retirement and wondering how I’m going to put your grandnephews through college now or just worrying if I’ll even have a job tomorrow. It’s nice to know you have my back. I’m sure the rest of my fellow Americans are just as grateful. Being an American is, nevertheless, being compassionate, and if we can’t take care of our Aunts and Uncles in Congress, then who can we take care of, right?

I mean the least we can do is provide you with 175K a year salary, pensions for life, a fleet of vehicles that resemble a Mercedes dealership, first class air fare, your own cafeterias, paid vacations at Resorts while you discuss the Nation’s business or have classes on how to cut out unnecessary expenditures or wasteful spending and SS benefits even if you don’t pay into the fund. You are after all, public servants and should receive any and all benefits from the public!

Sometimes, Uncle Sam, I’m at a loss for words. There is just too much I want to say to you and not enough time or paper to express it all. But I want to say one last thing. I sure hope you can get that health care program passed. I know you said it would compete with private insurance. But I know you, Uncle, once you get involved in something it’s ALL or nothing. You’ll start out insuring the so-called “uninsured” for now, but before we know it, you’ll have EVERYONE insured! You’re amazing like that you know! You write those long thousand page bills that we average Americans can barely understand and you don’t even expect us to. It’s so thoughtful of you to not want us to waste our time, due to the busy lives we lead, to worry about what’s shoved into those monstrous amendments. I just hope the health care bill will tell me what I should eat, when I should exercise and I sure hope it taxes fast food places like McDonald’s and all those horrible sugary drinks and any food that is bad for me. I also hope you will make sure that anyone who doesn’t take care of himself, as you deem appropriate, and is obese or drinks alcohol or smokes, goes to the end of the line when trying to get doctors’ appointments or medical help. And I’m confident you’ll make sure senior citizens will pass a test before they drain our health care system. After all, they’ve lived long lives already and should be cared for after the young. But I’m certain you have this already figured out and I have no need for trepidation. The health care bill will probably pass like the stimulus, speedy-quick and without anyone reading it and it will have other items included which have absolutely nothing to do with health care. But why should I worry? You’re all so honest and you were placed in Congress to take care of me and my fellow Americans; to do what we want; so I should be able to rest peacefully…

Sincerely,
Your Niece


*For those who don’t know; this is satirical.

Defiance101

I love and revere Mother Nature. When I was a little girl, my grandfather and father took my siblings and me for long walks in the woods and taught us about nature; Her majesty and beauty. We were taught not to litter and to give to nature by planting and nourishing. I save baby birds, bunnies and chipmunks then release them back to Mother Nature when they are ready. When I need to replenish myself, I go into my rock garden and meditate. My dream is to have acreage so that I can indulge whenever the urge strikes.

My father also taught us to conserve in other areas. When you leave a room, you turn the light off. When brushing my teeth, I wet the tooth paste, then turn the water off until I need it to rinse. I recycle, because it’s the right thing to do. I turn my thermostat down when I leave the house. It saves money yes, but that’s not the reason I do it. It’s just common sense; why heat or cool my house if no one is home? My point is, I do what’s right, because it’s the right thing to do, and I can do all this without being told to.

I’ve noticed lately that everything is GREEN. I go into the cleaning aisle and all I see are Green products. Even clothing is Green. The television is infested with commercials about going Green. I’m being bombarded with GREEN! It’s to the point I’m sick of GREEN! They are ramming GOING GREEN down my throat and I feel like I want to revolt.

I’m not a rebel. I love my country. I love nature. I want to do what I can to preserve our planet; but I can’t take being told what, when and how to do everything anymore. I don’t feel like I’m free to make any choices. This going Green feels like a Cult. And one thing I can’t handle are Cults. I’m not a Follower. I’m a Leader. I think for myself. And going Green doesn’t feel like I’m thinking for myself. There is NO proof that using Lysol cleaner is bad for the planet. There is NO proof that Green Works is better at killing germs and is better for the planet. There IS proof that plastic takes longer to bio-degrade, yet all the stores have the flimsy plastic bags. Whatever happened to the choice between paper or plastic? Now they want me to buy canvas bags and drag them to the grocery store every time. Oh that’s just great. I grocery shop once every 4-6 weeks. Do you know how many canvas bags I’d have to purchase and lug to the store! Just give me the brown paper bags that bio-degrade! Besides, I can use them for book covers for my kid’s school books or to wrap gifts or to send something to my sister in California. Yes, I improvise; again, I use my head all on my own. I don’t NEED someone telling me what to do.

Then we had Earth Hour on Saturday, March 28th. Everyone was encouraged to turn off their lights from 8:30 – 9:30. Needless to say, I didn’t participate. Why? Because I could make the CHOICE NOT TO. That may sound very immature to some, but I had to make a stand. I had to decide if I was going to be dictated to AGAIN. I didn’t revolt and turn all my lights ON. I just went about my normal daily life. We also have Earth Day. It’s been celebrated on April 22nd every year since 1970. I don’t celebrate that day, either. I don’t do anything rash like burn paint cans or anything. Again, I just go about my daily life just like I would any other day. I feel like Earth Day is a Cult, too. I am aware of our planet and I do what I can to preserve it, but I won’t become some Cult follower and believe that turning off all my lights for an hour is going to save the planet. We need to find alternative energy methods, but my lights have nothing to do with that and neither do yours. I think the government wants to see how many people will actually turn off their lights so they can see how many will follow their agenda. The next thing we know it’s a law that we have to turn off our lights for an hour every night. Sound extreme? Well, our government is extreme.

I don’t want to be defiant, but if they don’t stop ramming this stuff down my throat, I’m afraid I may become rebellious. Not an Uber! But I may rebel. I may start turning on ALL my lights just because I CAN. I may start throwing my newspaper and cans in the trash bag rather than put them in the recycle bin. That may not sound like major rebellion, but it’s the worst I could possibly do. No one would know, except me. I just don’t know if my conscience could handle it. So, at this point, they’re all just thoughts in my head that relieve a little stress.

Hatred101

I’ve decided to address a problem that we, as a country, have had to deal with and a reader of mine brought up recently. You can read his comment here. I felt this topic needed a post all its own. I believe we’ve dealt with this situation a lot in the last 8 years and with the election of Barack Obama, it hasn’t dissipated like a lot of people HOPED it would. The era of being united has yet to be. At least I don’t see it, and my reader Octo doesn’t see it, either.

The Ubers are still out there. Who are the Ubers you ask? They are the crazies, the loons, the moon-bats, the wackos on the Left and Right. You’ve heard of them. They chain themselves to trees to save the tree. Or they kill the abortion doctor to save the baby. They don’t have rationale that WE normal people can comprehend. Their minds are virtually twisted.

For 8 years the Ubers on the Left have HATED Bush. They’ve wanted him DEAD, literally. Their hatred then spilled over to ANYONE who supported Bush or even remotely liked Bush or anyone associated with Bush. They HATE Bush today and will ALWAYS HATE Bush. Nothing short of a miracle will stop this blind hatred.

Now we have the Uber Right who HATE Obama. They want him DEAD, literally. Their hatred spills over to ANYONE who supports Obama or even remotely likes Obama. They are attacking people, like Octo, because Octo voted for Obama. They are blinded by their hatred and nothing short of a miracle will stop this hatred.

I’m respectful of EVRYONE and EVERY viewpoint; EXCEPT the Uber’s; because the Uber’s are illogical. Their views are irrational. However, you can’t argue with an Uber. The best course of action is to walk away because you won’t win an argument with an Uber. But how does one handle death threats from an Uber, as my reader has experienced?

I believe my reader did the right thing by calling the police. However, the authorities can only do so much. Unfortunately the Ubers are so twisted they don’t even realize when they’re breaking the law. They believe their cause is above the law. What then? Does one take the law into one’s own hands?

Are we supposed to suppress our voice because of the Ubers? I don’t think so. I believe we have to be true to ourselves. We have to value our principles and our values. We normal people on the Left and Right outnumber the Ubers by far. We have to make OUR stand and fight the good fight.

Our Eagle needs both wings to fly. So, don’t stifle yourself because of some Uber or something on some neglectful news station. Know your heart. Know IN your heart what you stand for. KNOW your values and principles and stand by them. I believe that as long as you’re true to yourself and you have respect, not just of yourself, but of others you will convey a commanding presence. Be powerful …be yourself. After that, what will be, will be.

Life’s Not Fair

We’ve bailed out banks, insurance companies, people with mortgages who shouldn’t have gotten them and The Big 3. So, now those people who were scammed by Madoff want a bailout. Since when do we the people bail out those who made bad investment decisions? I’m sorry they invested their money with a thief. I’m sorry some of them lost their entire life savings. I’m sorry that life is unfair and bad things happen to good people. But since when is it our responsibility to bail out people when life happens? What’s next? A spouse dies and leaves behind a family with no life insurance, a mortgage, a car payment, credit card bills and no savings…are we supposed to bail them out too? Sure it’s sad. Sure it would be benevolent and possibly the right thing to do; but is it our responsibility to bail them out? Heck, I lost a lot of money in the stock market last year. Is the government going to bail me out? My husband’s company is really slow. He didn’t work 2 weeks right before Christmas, with NO PAY. This scenario may happen again if the economy doesn’t pick up. Are the taxpayers going to send me a check? What is up with people who think they are entitled to something because they were screwed? I’ve been screwed over in my life; but never once did I think that someone was going to pick up the damn tab for it. I chalked it up to being stupid and moved on. Some lessons in life are expensive. This entitlement attitude is really ticking me off. Where did it come from? When the hell did it start? And how do we get it to stop? If it were up to me, I’d tell these Madoff clients to take a hike. Well, actually, I’d tell them what I tell my kids, “Life’s not fair; I guess you better get used to it.”

Liars, Thieves and Cheats…Oh My

What's up with these politicians that run on family values, blah, blah, then get caught in public restrooms trying to pick up other men; emailing sex messages to teenage boys; keeping 3 mistresses while married; putting prostitutes in jail while paying thousands of dollars for a whore for yourself...and the list goes on. Not that other men don't do the same sick, twisted, illegal actions. The difference is the average Joe isn't in the public eye spewing lies about his integrity using tax dollars. Then you have the wives of these disgusting pig politicians standing next to them while they read from their prewritten apology like they truly feel remorse. They’re only sorry they got caught. The apologies are as genuine as their integrity speeches that got them elected in the first place. What’s wrong with these women? They have to know how ridiculous they look standing next to their so-called husbands on national television. If it were me…I’d go in front of that camera and just as he began his hypocritical, prewritten apology, I’d kick him in his crotch and walk away.

Back Off Buddy

I abhor driver’s that ride my bumper. It’s dangerous and illegal. I don’t suffer from road rage; however, if a driver gets on my tail, I soon become infected. My normal response, if I’m not alone in my vehicle, is to swear, complain and drive slower than the speed limit, which will tick off the Bumper Badger and provoke him into honking his horn and flailing his arms. When those tactics don’t get me to press my accelerator, he’ll either back off or become infected with road rage and illegally pass me while honking his horn, mouthing something I can’t hear and offer me some serious sign language. All this is ever so dangerous. But it gives proof to my passengers that the driver is everything I called him. After all, what sane person would pass you on a double yellow line, screaming goodness knows what, while flipping you the bird? The driver’s a menace! Where are the cops when you need them? I don’t, however, dare mention that it's ultimately my fault the other driver was coerced into behaving that way because I dropped to 10 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone--enough to try a Saint’s patience, I’ll admit.

When I’m driving alone and have a Bumper Bully, I’m a bit more assertive. I spike my brakes while looking into my rear-view mirror, so the other driver can see my face and I put my fist up to the mirror, with my thumb facing toward him, while mouthing, “Back off!” Sometimes the Tailgater will oblige (probably because he thinks I’m crazy) and put a safe distance between us. Every once in awhile I’ll get a wacko that will purposely stay on my tail end, so, I’ll hit my brakes a few more times and perform my mirror ritual. He finally realizes I’m not going to stop spiking my brakes and he’s going to end up running into the back of my vehicle. He either backs off or he gets so irate he illegally passes me, with his mouth going a mile a minute and his hand performing sign language. These guys just aren’t creative. But again, this procedure isn’t safe and since I’m always preaching safety, I’m breaking my own rules.

So, how did I eradicate Tailgate Terrorists? Up until recently, I was at a loss and alternated between my Granny Driving and Brake Spiking whenever one of these morons got too close for comfort. However, coming home from downtown the other night, with a Bumper Bully no less, I had an epiphany. Rather than risk something dangerous by inflaming the idiot behind me and have him pass me illegally, or worse, run into my back end, I decided to cautiously act like a drunk driver. How does a sober, in control driver act like a drunk driver? Well, she slowly drives toward the berm of the road, without actually driving onto the berm, then slowly from the berm to the double yellow line, without actually crossing the line and then back to the middle of the road. Looking in my rear-view mirror I saw the Bumper Bully about five car lengths behind me. It worked! He was off my tail end.

If you find yourself a victim of a Tailgate Terrorist, cautiously act like an out of control driver and he’ll back off.

The Correct Response

I suffer from migraine headaches. Thanks to my headache specialist, they’ve been reduced from twenty-four migraines per month to about nine. I take 150 mg of Topamax each day for preventative measures and an Imitrex tablet when one strikes. Sometimes I need two tablets to really break the monster, but they work and I’m so grateful.

A prescription of Imitrex comes in a package of nine pills and cost $359. Fortunately, I have insurance and can get two packages (18 tablets) for $20. My insurance will not pay for more than eighteen pills in any thirty day period. So, these little pink pills are like gold to me. On my last refill the Pharmacist told me she only had one package in stock because their shipment hadn’t come in yet and I could pick up the other package in a few days. This wasn’t a problem for me as I’ve been going to CVS for years and the Pharmacist has always treated me well.

A few days later I arrived at CVS’s drive-thru for the remainder of my Imitrex and a couple other prescriptions. Unfortunately I was waited on by the worst woman in the pharmacy department--this woman never smiles and only speaks when absolutely necessary. I figure her to be a miserable person in general or she just doesn’t like me. I politely told her I was only due one package of the Imitrex. She ignored me, never looked in the bag, handed it to me and gave me my total. I paid then bade her “good day”, which, of course, she ignored. I drove away, pulled onto the roadway then at the red light looked into the bag. Well, there were 2 packages of Imitrex, which meant that CVS was out $359 and I had nine extra precious pink pills.

I had to run some errands and while doing so I knew darn well I couldn’t, with good conscience, keep those pills. But before I went back to CVS, I rehearsed all the things I was going to say to Miss Miserable when I returned them. About two hours later I arrived at CVS, entered with Imitrex bag in hand and strode back to the pharmacy counter. Miss Miserable was there waiting on another customer. Her face never changed from its usual stiff discontent. (I think it’s safe to assume she was mad at the world and not just me). The customer left…my turn.

I stepped forward and said, “I don’t know why you chose to ignore me when I told you I was only due one package of Imitrex. It’s a good thing I’m honest or your pharmacy would be out three-hundred fifty-nine dollars.” I pulled both packages out of the bag. She grabbed the bag out of my hand and said, “Let me see who filled that!” I was flabbergasted that she tore the bag out of my hand. Yes, whoever initially filled it made the mistake; but she was wrong for not listening to me when I told her to check it! I looked at her and said, “The correct response is, Thank you.” I held out my hand for my package of Imitrex, which she handed me and I left the store.

I’m sure it didn’t sink into her bleached blonde head that it doesn’t matter to a customer where the mistake first happened. It could have been prevented had she just listened rather than worry about balancing that chip on her shoulder--and finger pointing has never solved anything. It sure wouldn’t have replaced the missing $359. People who finger point look incompetent, immature and just plain stupid, in my opinion. Figure out the quality control issue when the customer isn’t around. Until then, the correct response is--Thank you.