By my count, I have 11,492 pet peeves. Make that 11,493. No – make that. . . .

Pet peeves are specific irritating behaviors of others which get under our skin and annoy. . . .  The term “peevish” is derived from the Middle English term “pevish” (can be “peevish”) which means “spiteful,” “ornery” or “ill-tempered.”   Use of the noun “peeve” is of fairly recent origin — dating to about 1908.  The term “pet peeve” was first used in print in 1916.   It was popularized by Frank King’s cartoon strip “The Little Pet Peeve” that ran in the Chicago Tribune (1916-1920). Use of “pet” simply refers to “favorite.”  

I have a few pet peeves. What are yours? One that I’ve become aware of lately is the people who go to the food store – roll their shopping cart out to the car – and then leave the cart sitting in the parking lot. Some people park so far away that the cart is practically in another time zone. Why don’t these people – if they don’t bring it back in the store – usher the cart back to the outdoor collection point. Working on 10,000 steps? Get fifty walking your cart back.

When I was young(er), EVERYONE brought their cart back to the store. It was expected. Are we now so entitled that we can’t do that?

Today when I go to the local food store, I often park by an abandoned cart and just walk it in. And use it. Or I’ll just grab one from the outdoor inventory and take it in. I mean why not?