Notes from a Plastic Bag-Free Fanatic!

I recently started the spring semester of college. (Those of you who know me personally know that I have gone back to school after a 27 year hiatus.) I am taking watercolor again this semester, I am not sure if this is just to torture myself and the professor I had last semester or if I truly have found a passion in the class that nearly killed me, but I digress.
Last semester I carried my large sheets of watercolor paper to school in the cardboard box that I received them in, I like that box, it is just the right size! However, it is a bit awkward to tote around, and it is getting a little worn around the edges. So I decided to make myself an oversized tote to carry my cardboard box in, hoping to keep my box and art protected from the elements this semester.
Doug and I went to the fabric store and I made my selection from the remnant pile and headed toward the check stand. I was a little distracted as I was checking out and I forgot to tell the checker that I did NOT need a bag, so she handed over my fabric in a plastic bag. Of course I told her, that I really didn’t need the bag. In fact I was trying to save the world from plastic bags, one bag at time and that I hoped the folks in line behind me would pass on bags as well. Again those of you, who know me, KNOW that everyone heard my story, as I am no shrinking violet. I noted to myself that the lady behind me just had a little bit of ribbon in her hand, and those behind her not too much more, certainly none of them would need a bag for these items.
When we got to the car, I begged Doug to wait so I could see if my words of wisdom had touched any of these souls. Had I been able to convert a person to a plastic bag free life with my words of wisdom? Well, Doug was not as interested in my scheme as I was, so he was not planning on waiting, but as he backed out, I saw the woman who was in line behind me exiting the store……GIANT, plastic bag in hand!
I was so bummed, I really thought of all the folks, with her tiny bit of ribbon she would have passed on a bag for sure. I would like to find some explanation that makes me understand this fascination, obsession/addiction some people seem to have with plastic bags. I wanted there to be some happy ending, but alas that was not the case……. So, I guess there should a moral to my story…….however my mother always told me if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all, so I guess I will just have to keep quiet on this one.