Every time I go to the little general store here, I say something dumb. I don’t mean to, I don’t want to, it just has to happen. Sometimes I can get through almost an entire conversation with whichever cashier is working that day, but inevitably, before I walk out the door, stupid strikes.
Today I went in to buy potatoes, bananas, and this dark chocolate with salted caramel that I can’t find anywhere else. I politely said hello to the lady when I walked in. So far so good. I picked out my items, set them on the counter. No problem. She started ringing them up and asked, “How’s everything going?”
“Good!” I said. “How are you?”
”Great” she replied. Then there was a pause where I worried the dumb would happen, but instead I commented on the weather-
“I’m glad the snow is melting off pretty quick.”
She told me my total and said, “Me too, I’m ready for spring.”
Now...there are a number of appropriate, polite responses to that statement. Some would pleasantly draw out the conversation, others would draw it to a close so we could both carry on with our day. I could have said, “So am I, I can’t wait to start my garden.” I could have said, “Yeah, I think everyone’s tired of winter.” I could have just smiled, thanked her, and said goodbye.
This. This was where it would happen. I knew before I even opened my mouth, and I kept thinking “Don’t say the dumb thing. Don’t say the dumb thing.”
So I said, “The first couple of weeks smell like cow pies, though.” I even wrinkled my nose.
And she looked at me for a few seconds, suddenly remembered my now bagged and paid for items, handed them to me while nodding slightly and said, “Well! Here you go Cristen. Thanks for stopping in! Have a great night!”
I can’t take me anywhere.
And spring DOES smell like cow pies.
I do have them all on FB. 
