My mother rarely complained about her aches and pains, but when she did, all she would say was, "It's hell to get old." I'm six years older than she was when she passed and can confirm her sentiments as accurate. I have some spinal degeneration that makes it difficult to stand for more than a minute without leaning forward on something. Walking very far also requires something to lean on, like a grocery cart. I have learned to combine trips to create the least walking possible. I even subscribe to Shipt, which is a grocery shopping service that buys the foods you request and delivers it to your door. Anything to save steps. Unfortunately, Shipt can't do everything for me, so I do venture out maybe once a week. I can still drive with no problem because I can sit really well! Sitting on my ample derriere, watching my feet swell, is my forte' !
With a 3"-6" snowfall expected early in the week, I decided that I needed to go to our Meijer store to stock up on some things I thought I might need in case I got snowed in for a couple of days, plus get some cash from the ATM at my branch bank inside Meijer. I'd been bereft of cash for a few days, a condition that won't do in situations if I need to take advantage of people who ask if I need anything. At first, I was going to go Friday, but talked myself out of that. Then Saturday, I actually had my coat on to leave when my neighbor pulled his car behind mine in my driveway, unannounced. He was taking a delivery of fireplace wood and needed to get his car out of the way. (I didn't mind. He helps me out in a lot of ways. I figure I can put up with a little inconvenience for him. It did, however, cause me to give up the shopping trip.
So yesterday, it was do or die. I figured I'd go to Meijer (like a Walmart Superstore) for the cash, then come home and have Shipt do my shopping for me...but Shipt shops at Meijer, too. It seemed a little silly to pay the extra expense when I was already going to be in the store. The things that I needed were going to take me to both sides of the store...the home side and the grocery side...and I was already shaky on my legs; thus, I did something I've never done before: I used one of the little motorized scooters to get around.
Naturally, there is a learning curve to using those scooters. Until I got used to the power lever, I was the queen of jerky starts and stops, and I beeped when I backed up. Sometimes, I was going too fast. I felt like A.J. Foyt! I found that I still had to get out of the cart to reach some things and determined that I was often going the wrong way down aisles to get things from the opposite side. I'm glad the store wasn't particularly busy. I didn't run anyone down!
Goodness! What a disturbingly long lead-in to the actual subject of this post! As I was leaving the store after checking out, there was a young male Meijer employee doing cart duty in the entrance/exit area. I stopped and asked him if I were allowed to take the scooter out into the parking lot to my car, parked just outside the doors. He said I was, then followed me out to retrieve the scooter when I unloaded it. He asked if I needed help unloading. I said I wouldn't mind that, so he handed me the bags while I stashed them in the back seat. At one point, I quipped, "What a team we are!" His response was, "We are all better together." It was such a simple statement, yet profound. I doubt that the young man was even out of his late teens, but his attention to me and understanding words caused me to puddle up. And I didn't even have the cash to tip him--not that he would have taken it. (The ATM had only given me $20 bills.) I thanked him profusely and asked his name. He showed me his name tag: Tyler G.
When I got home, I called Meijer's Customer Service number. They transferred me to the store manager. I introduced myself and told him about Tyler G., and what a good ambassador he had been for Meijer to me. The man honestly sounded a little shocked to hear a commendation instead of a complaint. He assured me that Tyler G. would receive some sort of reward through a system that they use in the store. I hope he does. It meant so much to me, especially during these times when there is so much negativity around us.
I learned that little trick from my Salvation Army friend, Patrick, a number of years ago. We had met halfway between Chicago (where he lived) and Indianapolis (where I live) in order to hand off some radio gear. We'd stopped at a KFC, where we were waited on by a young, smiling, almost-bubbly young woman (who was also cute. Patrick loved cute.) After she had taken our order, Patrick asked to speak to the manager. Suddenly, her smile took on a look of concern, as if she were saying to herself, "What did I do wrong??" The manager arrived at the counter, and Pat--right in front of the young lady--started commending her for her wonderful, friendly attitude and efficiency. The gal absolutely beamed! I'm pretty sure it made her day.
I don't know why I never thought of that before. When we receive exemplary service from people in the course of doing their jobs, we really do need to make sure their employers know it. It costs nothing to put a note on a website or make a phone call--or even speak to a manager on the spot.
One time, I came home from the drive-thru with my Subway sandwich. The bag had my sandwich in it, plus a chocolate chip cookie that I had not ordered, wrapped in a napkin with a hand-written note on it: "Have a wonderful day!" Signed with a smiley face. It brightened my day, so I wrote a commendation on the Subway Facebook page, noting the store location and the time of my purchase. I hope the young fellow that waited on me at the drive-thru got some recognition for spreading some joy.
Since then, I have made it a point to give credit where it is due, publicly. Sometimes, thank you isn't enough. Maybe--just maybe--the employees who go the extra mile for customers who didn't even request it, can go home at the end of the day feeling as good about themselves as they made their customers feel by doing what they did.
We really ARE better together. We can make it happen.
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