My mother was embarrassed when she put prune juice in the grocery cart, so she had my father check out. While he was checking out, my mother would go to the newspaper section near the exit door, pick out the "National Enquirer," fold it under her arm, and walk out. Unknown to her, my father always paid for the newspaper at checkout. My mother didn't want anyone to know that she liked reading a trashy rag.
Ed had a good chuckle with the certificate. No, I didn't have a kleptomaniac mother or grandmother, but I must admit that over my 90 years I have taken a few jellies, and a nice towel.
My wife, Ann would say that's stealing and I would say like Richard Nixon said: "your President is no crook". that could be debated. Yes, I admit a kleptomaniac in a small way and knew it wasn't proper but after a few days my GUILT would wane.
I used to have a chief nurse and whenever a few of us would go out for lunch or dinner she did the same as you moim and reacted the same. Used to amaze and surptise me. People are all unique and different
When I was a child, I remember hearing stories about women of a "certain age" prior to leaving a buffet table at a restaurant, stuffing their purses with "liftable" food items. In spite of the fact that these were "all you can eat buffets" it didn't register with them (well maybe ?) that it meant eat while you're sitting in our restaurant. Oh dear. So much for profit.
ED: My MOM used to take the small cups of coffee creamer from restaurants. One day when JJ was a youngester I took them form lunch. When my Mom opened her handbag, there was avery distinct oder coing from the inside. Mom had forgotten she had the creamers in her bag and one (or more0 musy have leaked. JJ though it was so funny!!
Splendid story. Your mom presents as a glamorous and innocent woman. No one would ever suspect that she took what businesses would “want her to have.” Love her spirit and energy.
Ed, I always remember one of my Aunts (she passed in 1985) swiping the salt and pepper shakers (they were glass ones) from a restaurant back in the 1980's! My Mom always took a few, well a lot, of sugar packets over the years from restaurants. Maybe because they grew up during the depression? Beyond those kinds of things my family was generally law abiding!
A venial sin for sure! Just a step or two back on the stairway to heaven.
I remember my father always helped himself to the free match books and used them dramatically and practically by tossing one in as the backyard barbecue briquettes slowly began to fire up!
That sounds so much like my mother. She was so bad that my brother and I always made sure that our wonderful wife’s were stuck with taking her shopping. But is spite of it all, her heart was solid gold
My mother was embarrassed when she put prune juice in the grocery cart, so she had my father check out. While he was checking out, my mother would go to the newspaper section near the exit door, pick out the "National Enquirer," fold it under her arm, and walk out. Unknown to her, my father always paid for the newspaper at checkout. My mother didn't want anyone to know that she liked reading a trashy rag.
Oh, very funny, Charles. It was that entitlement piece; perhaps left over from the depression.
HaHa, prune juice in the cart . . . a giveaway for sure. Now it's Metamucil and Miralax.
Reminds me of Yogi Berra! He said that the towels were so fluffy at the hotel that he had trouble closing his suitcase!!
That's funny, Susan. I had not heard that one.
Here is something I wrote some time ago; the days when Yogi played in Rhode Island.
https://www.providencejournal.com/story/opinion/2015/09/27/yogi-plays-in-rhode-island/33436514007/
Ed had a good chuckle with the certificate. No, I didn't have a kleptomaniac mother or grandmother, but I must admit that over my 90 years I have taken a few jellies, and a nice towel.
My wife, Ann would say that's stealing and I would say like Richard Nixon said: "your President is no crook". that could be debated. Yes, I admit a kleptomaniac in a small way and knew it wasn't proper but after a few days my GUILT would wane.
A common behavior, Peter. Soap and shampoo from the hotel room? "They want you to have that." HaHa
"Oh, get off" They make MILLYUNS err millions.
HaHa
My mom and Aunt Mary would do the same thing whenever they went to the diner. They would grab the rolls and the flavored butter.
Familiar story, Bob. My aunt left the creamers in her handbag for a month. Not a good smell . . .
It's more common than you think. Thanks Ed, Frank
No surprise
My mother in law always emptied the substitute sugars into her purse. Drove us crazy. She certainly wasn’t poor!!!!
Yep, it was a thing
Dad was a klepto...sugar packets from Newport Creamery, LOL!
Not many men were kleptos in my experience. It made your Dad sweeter
. . . and you even sweeter
Thank you!
Takes lot of guts to write about your Mom’s kleptomania! But Ed did in such a humorous way, I forgave him. Haven’t we all done that?
I’ve lifted couple of gel ball pens after tipping !
I used to have a chief nurse and whenever a few of us would go out for lunch or dinner she did the same as you moim and reacted the same. Used to amaze and surptise me. People are all unique and different
It's more common than I thought, Patti
When I was a child, I remember hearing stories about women of a "certain age" prior to leaving a buffet table at a restaurant, stuffing their purses with "liftable" food items. In spite of the fact that these were "all you can eat buffets" it didn't register with them (well maybe ?) that it meant eat while you're sitting in our restaurant. Oh dear. So much for profit.
My mother didn't go that far, Jan, but I knew some that did. Again that philosophy of "Be Ready. We don't know what will be upon us tomorrow."
ED: My MOM used to take the small cups of coffee creamer from restaurants. One day when JJ was a youngester I took them form lunch. When my Mom opened her handbag, there was avery distinct oder coing from the inside. Mom had forgotten she had the creamers in her bag and one (or more0 musy have leaked. JJ though it was so funny!!
Hysterical, Bob. I'll bet there were a couple of pieces of bread also.
Splendid story. Your mom presents as a glamorous and innocent woman. No one would ever suspect that she took what businesses would “want her to have.” Love her spirit and energy.
Glamorous and innocent make the best crooks. Yes, she had spirit and energy for sure, Lora
Ed, I always remember one of my Aunts (she passed in 1985) swiping the salt and pepper shakers (they were glass ones) from a restaurant back in the 1980's! My Mom always took a few, well a lot, of sugar packets over the years from restaurants. Maybe because they grew up during the depression? Beyond those kinds of things my family was generally law abiding!
Tom, you may be right. They remembered the depression, so they stockpiled in anticipation of another.
A venial sin for sure! Just a step or two back on the stairway to heaven.
I remember my father always helped himself to the free match books and used them dramatically and practically by tossing one in as the backyard barbecue briquettes slowly began to fire up!
Love it. Venial sin? I haven't heard that since my catechism days at Blessed Sacrament.
In those days, I had Red Wagons full of venials.
That sounds so much like my mother. She was so bad that my brother and I always made sure that our wonderful wife’s were stuck with taking her shopping. But is spite of it all, her heart was solid gold
Yep, they never considered it stealing. "They want you to have that."
lol, it must have been a habit of our time. Lil🤣
lol
Nah, I think it cuts across all ages, Josie.