Christmas Eve at the North Point Trader Joe’s. I tried a sample of the pecan pie. The woman at the stand handed me my bite and said “Merry Christmas.” I smiled and wished her Merry Christmas too. Then she leaned my way confidentially and said, “That’s all I’m going to be saying tonight. ‘Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas.’ None of this ‘Happy Holidays stuff.’”

I’m a blue-eyed, white-haired man. Conservative appearing. I’m sure she figured, this guy’s no Jew or Muslim. She probably noticed my prosthesis and said to herself, he lost his leg in the War on Christmas. He’s a fellow sufferer at the hands of the horrible Christmas-carol bashing Santa haters. She wanted me to know I was not alone. Message received.

I didn’t have the presence-of-mind to ask, “What’s your point?” Or tell her that, as an agnostic, I’m not interested in her feisty anti-PC heroics.

Minutes later I was talking to myself, mouthing comebacks: “Do I look like a Christian? Was I breathing through my mouth?” Why didn’t I just say, “Shut up, you stupid bigot.” I probably should have said something to the manager, but I didn’t.

These dumbasses are making inroads. You don’t expect to run into Palinistas at a Trader Joe’s. It’s a progressive, tolerant corporation. Isn’t it?