Dear Beloved Customers,I labeled this volume 84. Because of my highly anal nature when it comes to facts, I feel I must add a footnote that I did try to count all the volumes because I am all about the accuracy. I must confess that the ADD made me lose count several times and out of frustration, I am using a guesstimate to start keeping track. Rest assured that it is a close guesstimate. I'm sure you really care, right?
You know what's peachy? Nice people. I don't spend a lot of time addressing the pleasant ones. For one thing, someone who actually smiles back at me is not all that funny. Unless they have lipstick on their teeth. Then I find it very hard to be mature and keep the laughter in. Which reminds me: when I was a newbie teller at a bank, my supervisor was a super duper nice lady in her fifties. She power walked every day on her lunch hour and could probably kick my butt even now. I was all of 20 years old and nervous to be around all that money. On one of my first days there, she was telling me something important about debits and credits and in a moment of awkward face to face conversation, I realized she was missing an earring.
It was all I could do to not laugh right out loud. I still giggle about it as I type this. Why? Because I am a goon with a weird sense of humor. There she was going on and on about ever so serious topics, bobbing her little gray head to emphasize her points and all I could do was stare at that one ear missing it's match. It was hysterical.
Nice people can be funny. Maybe it's only in my mind though and that's why I usually stick to the degenerates. You might not realize this, but the nice people are the majority. Yeah, you read that right. There is still hope for the human race! So, I'd like to give a shout out to all the pleasant peeps who come see me.
People like the ones I know in real life who come through my line to try and make it into my letters. You know who you are. This always cracks me up when I hear this. Mostly because I am just a goon writing about the stuff that pops into my head and hoping that someone else finds it interesting. I can be somewhat reserved in real life, so there's always that awkward moment when I know that you've read my crazy thoughts on things and I'm not sure what to say after that. At any rate, it's always nice to see a familiar face. It makes my night bearable.
People who ask me how I'm doing. This always amazes me. It is not my nature to ask people how they are. Unless I am full of energy, which is hardly ever due to the narcolepsy, you will get a friendly 'hi' and that's about it. I don't take for granted when you ask me how I am. It's a friendly gesture on your part and gives me faith that not all is awry with the human race.
People like all the dad's out there who shop with their kids....alone. Maybe because my stepdad was better at making beer runs and covert marijuana deals than shopping with his kids, this kind of display always surprises me. There are so many of you fathers who not only brave The Market with the kidlets, without the mommy, that I feel you deserve a shout out. And most of you are good at it! I am astonished at your patience and caring toward your children. I hope your women appreciate you. I know your children will someday.
People like the ones who connect with me on some level. Even if it's only about the massive invasion of ants in our homes this summer. I appreciate the small talk and your willingness to expend your energy, if only for a short moment of your life, to make my night go faster.
And there are many, many more. Nameless smiling faces that pass through night after night. You put your stuff on the belt neatly, you don't care how it's bagged, you try to make my job easier by your little gestures. I am thankful for you.
Thanks for being such a good example to people like the guy who opened his gum before I rang it up and left the trash all over the belt for me to clean up and looked at me with a smug face daring me to say anything to him. You are helping in his reformation whether you know it or not.
Thankful,
The Friendly Cashier
copyright carrie evans 2009
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2 comments:
I just had to tell you what some kid did to a fellow cashier of mine a few weeks ago. The gum wrapper guy reminded me of it..
This kid, about 11 or 12 years old SPAT on her front belt!! Seriously! So, she handed him a cleaner spray bottle and some paper towel and told him to clean it! His mom was totally nonchalant about it, but tried to chastise her kid! I cannot believe how ignorant some people are!
Nice to know nice people are appreciated. We are funny once in awhile too, just not that often in the checkout line. Your other peeps are definitely a more entertaining read. ;-) Anyway, your letters have reminded me to pay attention to the "invisible" people in my world. It's amazing how you can totally tune people out. It's equally amazing to see the response you get when you connect with someone that no one else notices. That's a blessing!
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