Thursday, December 22, 2011
A Flicker of Christmas Spirit
Things have been getting a little better each day as Christmas has approached. I honestly love Christmas so much and haven't been the least bit Bah Humbug about it, despite how it might sound.
But last night I had the tiniest of experiences that really helped shift me into the right spirit. It's funny how something so small and probably insignificant to someone else can change you, even for just a moment.
I had to run into one of my favorite stores for two quick things. I don't want to sound like I'm bad-mouthing the store when I tell this story, since instead of calling it by its proper name, I'll just call it..."Bullseye" for the sake of this post.
(By the way, "bullseye" is a weird word when you see it spelled out.)
By some miracle, I found a parking spot really close to the doors and dashed inside. I randomly ran into a friend in one aisle and we chatted and stuff while each looking for a couple of things we needed, then parted company when I had finished my shopping and she continued hers.
And then I went to the registers.
I got into the shortest line, which is almost always bad luck. As soon as I got into line, the cashier turned off his light and announced that his line was closed.
Grrr.
So I got out of that line and stepped into the next.
An older woman in a sweater that was an annoying shade of blue and had been waiting in a third line stepped over and looked at him with big, Golden Retriever eyes and said, "Oh, but I just have four things. Couldn't you please help me?"
As he nodded and allowed her into his line, I looked down at the two items in my hand and suddenly wanted to leave them on the shelf and walk right out the door. But I needed them and had already waited, and leaving now would mean I'd just wasted a lot of time and energy. Both of which have been in short supply lately.
A girl in front of me (who had three things in her hands) turned around and we bantered a bit about how irritating that entire moment had been and I said, "Bullseye really needs an express lane at this time of year. Well, really ANY time of year, but especially now."
She agreed and right then we noticed that a fourth line had suddenly become devoid of customers and no one had noticed. Which was right when that cashier shut off her light.
Grrr again.
Well, this young lady in front of me decided to try that old lady's trick. "Will you hold my place in line while I go ask if she'll take me?"
"Of course," I said. I figured if she didn't, I was in no worse place in line, and if she did I was at least one transaction closer to freedom.
The cashier took her and so I stepped forward one position and continued to wait. The transaction that was currently in process was taking way too long.
The girl came back over to me while the cashier was finishing ringing her up and said, "Come over here."
"Is she going to take me?" I asked.
"She said she would. I told her we came her together."
I ran to the next lane, put my purchases onto the conveyor belt and was finished within just a minute or two. I turned to thank the girl, but she had disappeared into a sea of shoppers bound for the parking lot.
I thanked the cashier profusely and she told me she was willing to put off her break for a minute if it meant helping someone else out.
That is some real customer service.
And it melted my icy heart just a little.
So, to the mysterious shopper and the girl who was on checkstand 12 at the Bullseye in Garden Grove last night, thank you.
You are awesome. And if you share this post, you'll be even awesomer!
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How great of her! I notice a lot of people are extra terrible around the holidays. They glare at you, cut you off, and I just think - WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE? lol
ReplyDeleteI hate shopping.
What a nice girl!
ReplyDeleteI just saw that you have Tina Fey's book on your bookshelf. I'm not a big book reader anymore, but Amanda got it for me for Christmas, and I'm excited about it! I've heard it's really funny.
That is so sweet! The world needs more people like that, and I' so glad that happened to you. You have too much Christmas spirit to be feeling the downward tugs you have been lately.
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful to see people actually doing nice things at Christmas. As much as we talk about the holiday spirit, I see the holidays actually make people meaner, fighting over lines and parking spaces.
ReplyDeleteI thought you were going to end the story with you having a horrible experience at the check out. Nothing says Christmas shopping like that.
ReplyDeleteBut, I'm glad you had a good experience and that people were nice. Good customer service is always so few and far between these days that it's nice to know there are still a few people out there that care to do their jobs well.
P.S. You'll love Tina Fey's book. Beware of some harsh language though. :)
I can't even imagine being in the Garden Grove Bullseye just a few days before Christmas. You are brave for that alone my friend!
ReplyDeleteIt really is the little things that make a difference, isn't it. You have reminded me to look outside myself and be like that girl and make someone's day in a small way. It could make a BIG difference. :) Glad you're feeling slightly better. :)
ReplyDeleteBullseye. Hahaha! I always get my shopping done early because shoppers are jerks, in general, and I'd really hate to have to run them over...
ReplyDeleteKAREN ~
ReplyDeleteYou really hit the target with the pseudonym "Bullsh--" ...er, excuse me... I meant, "Bullseye".
Listen... I love your re-sil-ien-cy! I was SURE you would find the Christmas Spirit before it was all over. (Truly, I was!)
Also, I was going to post a comment on your last blog bit, but I was afraid it was something that you wouldn't really want to read; something that wasn't really going to help matters much either.
It was to be a verse from Scripture - one that definitely applies to me, but which is, in a sense, a slightly bitter pill to swallow.
Glad to see you're fighting your way through the "Ebenezer Grinchness" regardless.
I just posted a new blog bit at my 'STUFFS' blog, and I added a small tribute there to you and this very post. Please check it out if you have a chance.
[Incidentally, I originally had it written as "4th Street" - thinking of 4th Street in Santa Monica and the Bob Dylan song "Positively Fourth Street". But, with this post in mind, I changed it to honor YOU!]
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
POSTSCRIPT:
Some of the best years of my childhood were spent in Westminster and... GARDEN GROVE! So I know of what I speak. Why just the other day, I was looking out at a baseball diamond - which reminded me of my youth in Orange County - and I wished sooooo sincerely that I could relive my days in that very same area where you are currently living! (I was an "O.C." boy back when "O.C." meant "White trash".)
I keep hoping to see some Christmas spirit from the customers at my job...but they just keep getting worse. I swear, I'm going to lose it... I mean, all I wanna do for Christmas is go punch a few people and spit in their food. Glad you're seeing and being part of the postive side of Christmas.
ReplyDeleteHey Karen,
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's the small gestures that referesh your belief in human nature. Here's wishing you a merry Christmas.