I get "carded" a lot when purchasing alcohol, especially when I don't have my children with me. I've often joked that I don't look underage, I just look dishonest. Seriously: I DO NOT look under 21, nor do I dress like a teenager. Yet my husband, who is 2 years younger than I am, never seems to have to go through this silly procedure.
I guess I just look shifty.
Today I was running errands while the MIL watched the youngins, and I stopped at a grocery store to buy a bottle of wine. Australian Shiraz (ya just can't go wrong with those Aussie reds!). Now I suppose that buying one bottle of wine in the middle of the day may seem peculiar at a Florida Publix, but I wanted something for tonight with Jay, the Shiraz was on sale, and I had already bought all my groceries yesterday.
So at the register the cashier gave me a sour look, then pulled the bottle away from the scanner and just held it, like a mother yanking an unauthorized cookie away from a toddler. "I.D., please," she said with an irritated tone. This required me to go digging through my wallet again, which is ultra aggravating in the Speedy Checkout Lane with grumbly folks waiting behind me.
I grimaced and handed over my ID. Now usually at this point a cashier would make some sweet comment about me looking much younger, but this harpy actually plunked one hand on her hip, and then HELD MY LICENCE UP TO THE LIGHT. For a moment I thought she was going to call a manager over. And what the heck is accomplished by holding the ID up to a florescent ceiling???
Finally she handed back the card and completed the purchase, after shooting me a disapproving glance. She said nothing, not even a thank you. Y'know, I suppose that at the age of 37 I should be flattered, but frankly at the age of 37 it's just become annoying.