Today a lady hugged me for wishing her a happy birthday. I see her two or three times a week. I don't even know her name.
This evening, as I was running to the bathroom for my break, an elderly Latin man asked for help finding something for his wife. We combed through three sections of shelves, and when we found it, he beamed like the sun and hugged me too. Then I ran back to make sure I wasn't late.
6 months ago, a woman came through my line buying a cake. It was a triple chocolate tort, something stacked and gooey and iced. She was bright and cheery and smiling, and I exclaimed over her cake and asked what she was celebrating.
"Actually," she said, still smiling, "my stepson was found unconscious this morning. His wife got him to the hospital, and he died. Just died. He was thirty two years old. His four children are at my house. The oldest is eleven. I have no idea what to tell them. So...I'm buying cake."
She was still smiling. Her voice trembled with cheeriness, and she was smiling.
What do you say?
"I'm sorry," I got out. "I'll..." I didn't want to lose my job. I didn't want to get in trouble. But my heart bled, and there was only one thing I could say. "I'll pray for you."
Her face crumpled. She came around the cash register and hugged me. Then she took her cake and left.
That was the first time someone hugged me at the grocery store.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Monday, January 27, 2014
Mistaken for a Homeless Person
Today, I was mistaken for a homeless person by a homeless person.
Apparently I looked newly-homeless, because I was given lots of advice and the old gentleman was very kind. Also, there was no kind way to turn down his tangerines, so today I was given food by a homeless man. ._.
I need to find a way to give this man a wonderful turkey sandwich or something.
(December 21, 2013)
Apparently I looked newly-homeless, because I was given lots of advice and the old gentleman was very kind. Also, there was no kind way to turn down his tangerines, so today I was given food by a homeless man. ._.
I need to find a way to give this man a wonderful turkey sandwich or something.
(December 21, 2013)
Ten Bottles of Red Food Coloring
Today I rang up a kid buying ten bottles of red food coloring.
Me: So what are you making?
Guy: *embarrassed* Oh, well, it's a project, and...you know...
Me: Fake blood? *-*
Guy: Um...no. Kind of. Well... .__.
Me: Fake blood AND GUTS? 8D
His enthusiasm when he realized he was at the one cash register that wanted to hear about his special effects was heart-warming.
(November 23, 2013)
Me: So what are you making?
Guy: *embarrassed* Oh, well, it's a project, and...you know...
Me: Fake blood? *-*
Guy: Um...no. Kind of. Well... .__.
Me: Fake blood AND GUTS? 8D
His enthusiasm when he realized he was at the one cash register that wanted to hear about his special effects was heart-warming.
(November 23, 2013)
Befriending Grumpy
When I first started working at my job, there was this guy who came through and was very gruff and abrupt.
Me: "Hi! How are-"
Guy: "No time, don't want to talk, I'm tired!"
This happened two or three times, till I finally remembered what he looked like.
The next time he came through, I had been chatting and laughing with all the customers ahead of him, and when I got to his food, I went dead silent. I wrapped up his order without making a peep. He looked weirded out. The other people in line looked surprised. But when I handed him his receipt, I beamed at him, "And no conversation, because you're special and important!"
He stuttered. He stammered. He blushed a little.
Next time, he came back.
Sometimes he starts a conversation. Sometimes I just smile at him and we're quiet. But every time I ring up his coffee, I'm glad to have him in my life.
And that's how you turn someone being grumpy into a new way to love them.
(December 10, 2013)
Me: "Hi! How are-"
Guy: "No time, don't want to talk, I'm tired!"
This happened two or three times, till I finally remembered what he looked like.
The next time he came through, I had been chatting and laughing with all the customers ahead of him, and when I got to his food, I went dead silent. I wrapped up his order without making a peep. He looked weirded out. The other people in line looked surprised. But when I handed him his receipt, I beamed at him, "And no conversation, because you're special and important!"
He stuttered. He stammered. He blushed a little.
Next time, he came back.
Sometimes he starts a conversation. Sometimes I just smile at him and we're quiet. But every time I ring up his coffee, I'm glad to have him in my life.
And that's how you turn someone being grumpy into a new way to love them.
(December 10, 2013)
Dear Loser who Tried to Get a Fake Check Past Me Today:
Dear Loser Who Tried to Get a Fake Check Past Me Today:
When you are caught trying to defraud a shining institution such as a grocery store, such as the BEST grocery store, the proper course of action on your part is to hang your head, apologize, and leave.
You are not allowed to get angry. You are not allowed to be mad. You are not allowed to complain that I wrote on your stupid fake check.
Why? Because I just spent five minutes trying to give you the benefit of a doubt, and then another five pretending it was possibly the fault of your bank. Oh, I'm sorry, sir, your bank gave you a fake check that looks like it was forged by an idiot.
You should be grateful. Grateful that other people were saved from suffering for your greed and malice. Grateful that you were too stupid to forge a check. Grateful that I rescued you from committing the evil you had purposed in your heart to do.
And you know what else you should be grateful for? You should be grateful that EVERY CASHIER that is gratefully employed in our wonderful grocery store didn't attack you and rip you apart with our teeth. You should be grateful that, compared to how you were trying to treat us, we were really, REALLY nice.
Because you ARE a loser. You pull something like that, you try to be evil, and you are losing at life. What you did was wrong, and you're wrong, but you DON'T have to stay that way. Jesus freaking died because he thought you were worth more than your stupid fake check.
Stop losing, and live up to what he did for you.
And while you're being grateful, while you're changing your heart, and while you're hopefully repenting to my manager with tears for how unkind you were to her, send up a prayer of thanks that I didn't break your face with a spaghetti squash.
Sincerely,
The Cheerful Cashier
(January 8, 2014)
When you are caught trying to defraud a shining institution such as a grocery store, such as the BEST grocery store, the proper course of action on your part is to hang your head, apologize, and leave.
You are not allowed to get angry. You are not allowed to be mad. You are not allowed to complain that I wrote on your stupid fake check.
Why? Because I just spent five minutes trying to give you the benefit of a doubt, and then another five pretending it was possibly the fault of your bank. Oh, I'm sorry, sir, your bank gave you a fake check that looks like it was forged by an idiot.
You should be grateful. Grateful that other people were saved from suffering for your greed and malice. Grateful that you were too stupid to forge a check. Grateful that I rescued you from committing the evil you had purposed in your heart to do.
And you know what else you should be grateful for? You should be grateful that EVERY CASHIER that is gratefully employed in our wonderful grocery store didn't attack you and rip you apart with our teeth. You should be grateful that, compared to how you were trying to treat us, we were really, REALLY nice.
Because you ARE a loser. You pull something like that, you try to be evil, and you are losing at life. What you did was wrong, and you're wrong, but you DON'T have to stay that way. Jesus freaking died because he thought you were worth more than your stupid fake check.
Stop losing, and live up to what he did for you.
And while you're being grateful, while you're changing your heart, and while you're hopefully repenting to my manager with tears for how unkind you were to her, send up a prayer of thanks that I didn't break your face with a spaghetti squash.
Sincerely,
The Cheerful Cashier
(January 8, 2014)
Cool Teenaged Girl in My Line
Cool teenage girl in my line: *chats with friends*
Me: *[name removed to protect subject]* ? O:
Cool teenage girl: ...yeah? o__o
Me: Oh my goodness you're so grown up!
Cool teenage girl: How do you know me? o__o
Me: Oh...I don't want to embarrass you in front of your friends. .__.
Cool teenage girl: No, go ahead. o__o
Me: We played with tiny ponies and little dinosaurs and you bossed me around a lot...
Cool teenage girl: OH MY GOSH!!! O____________O
...babysitting rocks.
And go you being all grown up, tiny pony girl. Go you.
Me: *[name removed to protect subject]* ? O:
Cool teenage girl: ...yeah? o__o
Me: Oh my goodness you're so grown up!
Cool teenage girl: How do you know me? o__o
Me: Oh...I don't want to embarrass you in front of your friends. .__.
Cool teenage girl: No, go ahead. o__o
Me: We played with tiny ponies and little dinosaurs and you bossed me around a lot...
Cool teenage girl: OH MY GOSH!!! O____________O
...babysitting rocks.
And go you being all grown up, tiny pony girl. Go you.
Things I Have Learned from Customer Service
Things I have learned from customer service:
1. There are more kind people than nasty people.
2. Most rude folks are just afraid.
3. People can be won over about 99% of the time, if you just keep loving them.
4. Evil exists.
(October 15, 2013)
I thought I would add something to the above, because I've been working for longer now. It seems I should know more. But...I think that really sums it up.
1. There are more kind people than nasty people.
2. Most rude folks are just afraid.
3. People can be won over about 99% of the time, if you just keep loving them.
4. Evil exists.
(October 15, 2013)
I thought I would add something to the above, because I've been working for longer now. It seems I should know more. But...I think that really sums it up.
Soul-Halves and Old People
It is such a satisfaction every time a regular customer comes through with a spouse on his arm.
I get to see his face calmer, more peaceful than it usually is. I get to see her for the first time and realize that I recognize this lady I've never met, because she matches him. I get to exclaim, "Ah! I've met him, but I've never met you before. You're lovely together."
Their eyes move in tandem. They smile or blush or turn carefully away, but as a pair, without realizing that, whatever it is, the expression is in sync. They are beautiful.
Children look like parents. Siblings resemble siblings. But the older couples are like seeing two halves of a soul. It's wonderful.
I get to see his face calmer, more peaceful than it usually is. I get to see her for the first time and realize that I recognize this lady I've never met, because she matches him. I get to exclaim, "Ah! I've met him, but I've never met you before. You're lovely together."
Their eyes move in tandem. They smile or blush or turn carefully away, but as a pair, without realizing that, whatever it is, the expression is in sync. They are beautiful.
Children look like parents. Siblings resemble siblings. But the older couples are like seeing two halves of a soul. It's wonderful.
"Blissfully Happy"
There
was an older lady who came through my line in my first week of work,
when I'd just begun dating Collin Pennington, and she asked in a grumpy,
robotic voice how I was, to receive "BLISSFULLY HAPPY. *-* "
She looked at me like I had sprouted alien antennae and asked why, and I told her, and she responded with continuing incredulity.
She has come through my line five times now, and every time she asks me if I am still blissfully happy.
Yesterday, for the first time, I saw her smile.
(Oct. 1, 2013)
Update: The last time I saw her, she invited herself to my wedding, whenever it happens. She scowled at me and informed me she would stay alive that long. I'm so glad to have this story in my life.
She looked at me like I had sprouted alien antennae and asked why, and I told her, and she responded with continuing incredulity.
She has come through my line five times now, and every time she asks me if I am still blissfully happy.
Yesterday, for the first time, I saw her smile.
(Oct. 1, 2013)
Update: The last time I saw her, she invited herself to my wedding, whenever it happens. She scowled at me and informed me she would stay alive that long. I'm so glad to have this story in my life.
And Another Human Being Absolutely Rocks
Customer: How are you?
Me: I was sad missing someone and then I realized how wonderful it was to have the opportunity to be lovesick and missing him so now I'm happy! ^-^
Customer: Aw. Is he out of town?
Me: ...
>_>
<_<
v_v
Me: No. I saw him an hour ago, but I don't get to see him again till tomorrow. :c
Customer: ...it's okay to be silly and feel feelings. Good for you. I hope you have fun tomorrow.
...and another human being absolutely rocks.
Sept. 23, 2013
Me: I was sad missing someone and then I realized how wonderful it was to have the opportunity to be lovesick and missing him so now I'm happy! ^-^
Customer: Aw. Is he out of town?
Me: ...
>_>
<_<
v_v
Me: No. I saw him an hour ago, but I don't get to see him again till tomorrow. :c
Customer: ...it's okay to be silly and feel feelings. Good for you. I hope you have fun tomorrow.
...and another human being absolutely rocks.
Sept. 23, 2013
Blog Post 1: Dear Customers
Four months ago, I posted an open letter on Facebook:
"Dear Customers,
"When I tell you I'm glad to be serving you, I am telling the truth.
"When I tell you I like my job, it's not because anyone ever asked me to.
"And when I say that I hope you have a good day, it's not because you've been nice, or even passably polite. You are not loved for what you do. You're loved for what you are.
"Do you want to come through my line and deride me for seeming happy a few more dozen times? Bring it on. I'll be here, and I will bag your groceries like a gift and tell you again, if not with my words with what I do, that you are important, that you are more loved than you're gross, you're more wanted than you're mean, and you're more looked-for than you're missing.
"Try me. I'll be here.
"Sincerely,
"The Cheerful Cashier"
Since then, I've rung up a lot of groceries. I've smiled at a lot of people who didn't smile back. I've met people whose mothers would be ashamed of them. I've had a lot more practice being cheerful.
And I've been asked to share my adventures.
I don't know if this will go anywhere. I don't have plans to regularly post. But, hello, fellow adventurers! My name is Joy. I work at my favorite grocery store in the entire world. Life is hard, but I'm with Jesus, and it's always worth it. I am that cheerful cashier.
"Dear Customers,
"When I tell you I'm glad to be serving you, I am telling the truth.
"When I tell you I like my job, it's not because anyone ever asked me to.
"And when I say that I hope you have a good day, it's not because you've been nice, or even passably polite. You are not loved for what you do. You're loved for what you are.
"Do you want to come through my line and deride me for seeming happy a few more dozen times? Bring it on. I'll be here, and I will bag your groceries like a gift and tell you again, if not with my words with what I do, that you are important, that you are more loved than you're gross, you're more wanted than you're mean, and you're more looked-for than you're missing.
"Try me. I'll be here.
"Sincerely,
"The Cheerful Cashier"
Since then, I've rung up a lot of groceries. I've smiled at a lot of people who didn't smile back. I've met people whose mothers would be ashamed of them. I've had a lot more practice being cheerful.
And I've been asked to share my adventures.
I don't know if this will go anywhere. I don't have plans to regularly post. But, hello, fellow adventurers! My name is Joy. I work at my favorite grocery store in the entire world. Life is hard, but I'm with Jesus, and it's always worth it. I am that cheerful cashier.
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