It’s intriguing how the pandemic changed me. It’s hard, though, to figure out what is change because of the pandemic and what is because of retirement. But, that’s beyond today’s post.

I ventured into to not one, but two, retail stores this week – the kinds that are near and dear to my heart – a bookstore and REI. What else do we need in life?

I also had to go get some labs drawn.

I’m so glad I had these opportunities, not to shop but to meet at least two people that will stand out in my mind for a very long time.

They were the people “behind the counter”.

I wonder how much we think of these folks especially at this time of year. I ask myself, how would I handle all these different types of customers. You know, the ones that are always right, always in a hurry and have to be first. And boy, do they get upset if the store doesn’t have what they want – like it’s the clerk’s fault. I am positive I would be fired within the first week and most likely, the first day.

“You have to give a urine sample.”

The woman at the lab I wasn’t so sure of at first. Your number is called and you are called into the collection room into cubicles. Usually, like so many health care providers these days, they spend all their time looking at the computer. She did initially until she said: “You have to give a urine specimen”. I replied “That’s ok, at my age I can pee on demand!” Then I told her that wasn’t always the case because I could never provide a urine sample for drug tests because I couldn’t pee in front of someone. She started laughing and then began an animated confession about her recent dealings with hot flashes and we had a grand old time.

Now, after all these years I have absolutely no anxiety about blood draws but when I have to have human contact, I want it to be fun or nice anyway. That’s not asking too much, I don’t think.

I could tell she was having fun with it too, so we both came out happy. And I will remember her for a long time.

“Did you know this is a camera holder too?

REI employs many friendly people. But, this week, I met one of the best and you can bet, it will bring me back there (that’s the whole point isn’t it).

I bought a walking stick that was light weight – good to use getting back from my stress fracture. As she was ringing me up she said “did you know this has a camera holder?” and proceeded to take the top off and show me how it could be used to take a selfie. She was funny but you could tell she just wanted others to be as happy about things as she was. And it worked. Her attitude has to be the best in a sales person that I’ve ever seen.

These people are harassed all the time. What can you do to make their day a bit better. You know that what you give, you also receive so see how you can make a difference in the next week as the holiday hectic happenings are in full force. They are people just like you and they want to be treated with the respect and courtesy we “demand”.

How hard is that?