When bread is scarce and milk is a commodity,
When someone else makes decisions for your family’s needs,
When people cut in line because their life depends on it,
When there is yelling about portions sizes – “My family is bigger so I deserve more!”
When there is yelling about younger people deserving more because
Face it, they are going to live longer.

I’ve seen the oldest bunch in the neighborhood,
(Here in America)
Line up outside the pharmacy
Waiting for the day’s free newspaper to become available.
The news is not really a commodity but to be first informed is to be proud.
Then they can gossip all day about it in the park!
Well, that’s one way to interpret the trickle-down effect.
“It is in their blood,” I am told.
To wait – it’s all they know how to do.

I know what waiting is –
Standing in line until your knees ache
Your heart races faster than the line is moving
The people around you push and shove making absurd declarations like
“I was here first!”
I was born a little late to have the wait frenzy indoctrinate me.

I will never understand.