The Rule Enforcers

Yes, ok, I know that enforcers isn't a word, but it is now. It has been the new title given to my Mom and Grandma Condie. This all began a few months ago I suppose when Melinda sent out her graduation time and date to family through e-mail. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to go as work has been reluctant to give anyone time off lately because they don't know how busy it will be. So when I got my schedule I had to e-mail Melinda and let her know I couldn't go as I was working. I asked her if I could get her a card and candy bar or something. She told me absolutely not. So I ignored her and got her something anyway.

As it turns out I was able to go after all. Work turned out to be really slow so when they offered and early out I seized the chance and hurried out so I could make it to Melinda's graduation. I got to Mom and Dad's and helped Mom finish her hair so we could go. On the way up to Logan I snacked on pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and got melted chocolate on my fingers. I'm a messy cookie eater. :)

When we got up to the graduation ceremony area Dad and I went in to save seats for the rest of the family. Well, as always they had roped off a small section for photography so we sat in the row behind that. We saved ten seats. And after a few minutes we saw two very familiar people on the opposite side of the building sitting down. Dad tried to call them to tell them where we were, and I had to laugh as he struggled to get a hold of them. Finally after calling twice Grandpa called him back. We waved to them so they could see where we were so they came over to sit by us. I soon spotted Mom and Brent as well. When Brent's parents arrived Brent went up to get them and when he brought them I exchanged my nice warmed up seat for a freezing cold one. I regretted that the second I sat down.

Well, the graduation ceremony was scheduled to start at 1:30pm. At 1:20pm a lady and her daughter came down, looked around and discovered that there weren't any front row seats left. So she pointed to the taped off area and started to count chairs as she pulled the tape off.

My Mom, sandwiched inbetween my Grandma and I, was very irked by this. And their following conversation went something like this...

Mom: "Um, hello, excuse me."

Snobby Rude Lady: (turns and looks at my Mom): "Yes?"

Mom: "You can't sit there it's roped off."

Snobby Rude Lady: "Yes, but it says photography section." (She holds up her camera)

Me: "It means professional photography."

Snobby Rude Lady's Daughter (counts the rows on with her fingers, maybe she can't add in her head?) "But there are six rows reserved."

Grandma: "Yes but they're reserved for a reason."

Snobby Rude Lady's Daughter: "I don't think they're gonna have this many professional photographers for this graduation."

Mom: "It doesn't matter you aren't supposed to sit there."

At this point Snobby Rude Lady and her Daughter look at each other give all three of us dirty looks and walk into the aisle again.

Snobby Rude Lady: "Fine, whatever."

Snobby Rude Lady's Daughter: "Gee, thanks for enforcing the rules."

Determined to have her own way Snobby Rude Lady went down to one of the camera guys and asked him, of course he was on the ceremony floor so she just undid the chain and let herself. (Can you believe the nerve of some people? Seriously?) Apparently he told her she could sit there. So she goes to sit in the middle section on our side, but then thought better of it. Maybe she thought her hair would catch fire as Mom and Grandma were looking at her with such red hot eyes I'm suprised she just didn't combust right then and there. So she undid the chain and they walked across the ceremony floor to the opposite side and sat in the section opposite of us in the taped off section. But she couldn't seem to make up her mind on where she wanted to sit. First she had them sit in the middle, then a few minutes later she moved them to the aisle seats.

After the ceremony began we discovered why those sections were taped off. It was so family members could move around easily while taking pictures. Of course thanks to Snobby Rude Lady others followed her example on the opposite side and sat in the taped off section. So the poor family members over there had to sit in the aisles to take pictures. I don't understand how some people can think they can just arrive ten minutes before something like this starts and get a front row seat.

So my mom now has a new "best friend" and Snobby Rude Lady might think twice before crossing my family again. But it was so worth going yesterday. Not only to see my sister get her degree but to see my Mom and Grandma be dubbed "The Enforcers".