There's nothing more pressured than trying to open a new
plastic bag with a queue of shoppers waiting behind you.
I may be exaggerating slightly; defusing a
bomb might be a tiny bit more stressful. That said, wrestling with a plastic
bag in front of an audience is definitely somewhere near the top of the list.
I find it particularly difficult when the cashier is
watching me. They open plastic bags for a living. Not only that,
but they see other people doing it day in and day out; most of them no doubt
successfully.
Sometimes the cashier will give you a proverbial Get Out of Jail Free card and offer to pack your shopping for you. I never take them up
on this. I’m far too proud. I’ll insist I’m fine – and then spend the next few
minutes flailing helplessly amongst a pile of polythene.
It’s hardest when the bags are still attached to each other, which is usually the case at the self-service checkout. For some
unfathomable reason, it’s easier to separate the plastic of two adjacent bags
than it is to open a bag itself. Why is this?
(I might complete a thesis on the subject.)
My problem is, I always panic. When I’m in the comfort of
my own home, it’s never been an issue. If I’m opening a new rubbish bag,
for example, I always remember to wet my fingers first. For some reason I never
think of this when I’m standing in a shop queue. Perhaps I should get a tattoo on the
back of one hand to remind me.
The secret is to always carry your own pre-opened bags; this
will save you from any unnecessary embarrassment. It’s also better for
the environment.
Basically, that’s a win-win situation.