My overly friendly, assumptive way of relating to strangers doesn’t always work.
I walked into the supermarket yesterday and for the first time I was struck by how efficient grocery stores are at expediting customers. Once again most of the shopping carts were inside the store, yet I knew that the line I’d stand in would be no more than one person deep. I guess it’s the number of cash registers, or that no one pays by check anymore, or that all the items are tagged, or that... ?
After Margaret asked me, “Paper or Plastic,” I said, “Supermarkets are amazing places.”
She looked at me.
“Think of the numbers of people who come and go and yet no lines.”
She smiled.
“If this were Home Depot or any other large store doing the equivalent volume, there would be lines.”
She handed me my receipt.
“Why thank you, and have a good day.”
Yea. nice picture
Posted by son.What do you mean, it didn't work? You made her day. (You just didn't get the complete story of her life.)
Posted by to work or not to work.haha oh the bring back the memories of summer with you. thats great.
Posted by goose.The legendary napper in his early years...
Posted by charlie.Your story reminds me a little of the time in the late 70s when I went to my work/study job at the university cafeteria and was deeply impressed with the brilliance of the system of warming pans -- there were full size pans, half size pans, 1/3 size pans, ... the quarter size pans needed little supports to hold up one of the two sides that wasn't supported by the long edge support. Gosh, I really wish I had a photo, to explain this better. It's really a very clever system, and I was eloquent in my praises.
No, I wasn't fired.
Posted by anonymous.How come you make us dig for Chillin' (short for children, right?) instead of posting on the front page?
What a flashback. We probably had Here Comes the Sun playing in the background...
Is that Karen or Bonnie on my left?
Posted by smiling.That would be, Karen. I wonder who took the picture?
Posted by michael.Yea. nice picture
Posted by: sonat February 10, 2005 10:11 AMWhat do you mean, it didn't work? You made her day. (You just didn't get the complete story of her life.)
Posted by: to work or not to workat February 10, 2005 06:43 PMhaha oh the bring back the memories of summer with you. thats great.
Posted by: gooseat February 10, 2005 09:49 PMThe legendary napper in his early years...
Posted by: charlieat February 10, 2005 10:25 PMYour story reminds me a little of the time in the late 70s when I went to my work/study job at the university cafeteria and was deeply impressed with the brilliance of the system of warming pans -- there were full size pans, half size pans, 1/3 size pans, ... the quarter size pans needed little supports to hold up one of the two sides that wasn't supported by the long edge support. Gosh, I really wish I had a photo, to explain this better. It's really a very clever system, and I was eloquent in my praises.
No, I wasn't fired.
Posted by: anonymousat February 10, 2005 11:05 PMHow come you make us dig for Chillin' (short for children, right?) instead of posting on the front page?
What a flashback. We probably had Here Comes the Sun playing in the background...
Is that Karen or Bonnie on my left?
Posted by: smilingat February 12, 2005 09:21 AMThat would be, Karen. I wonder who took the picture?
Posted by: michaelat February 12, 2005 09:23 AM