Quit complaining

Saturday morning at the local post office, twelve days before Christmas.  Standing in the predictably long line.  Folks mailing multiple packages.

All is going well.  People are being polite and courteous.

Then a guy towards the back of the line starts complaining.  "You got to be f&#@ing kidding me!," he says, almost under his breath.  We ignore him.  The line moves forward.

The guy continues to complain, this time a little louder, "What the f#*$!"  People around him politely ignore him.  The line moves forward.

The guy then says, "I can't f&#@ing believe this!"  Not shouting, but definitely within ear shot of most of us.

Smiling, I turn towards him and quietly ask, "Are you going to spend Christmas away from your family in a combat zone?  Are you going to carry a 60 pound ruck out on to a mission?  Are you going to risk being shot or blown up?"  He just looks at me.  I continue, "If not, then quit your complaining."