Saturday, June 14, 2003

This morning's major task was grocery shopping. Most days, it is a chore to head into town and I come home feeling drained and grumpy.

Not today!

Instead of heading toward Flint, I pointed my Jeep in the opposite direction, rolled my windows down and turned up the radio. The two stores on my itinerary are not huge chain stores. They are locally-owned and in a small town. I adore the quaint atmosphere, citizens wave and are patient, but with 4 sets of railroad tracks snaking through town, I guess they know plenty about slow!

Both grocery stores have friendly personnel...from cashiers to the meat cutters to the stockers. Everyone smiles. Conversations with cashiers are not, "That will be $38.22." They offer paper or plastic, ask if you found everything OK, hand out DumDum suckers (even to adults!) and ALWAYS tell you to have a nice day. It is quite obvious, because I have NEVER heard one complaint, that the workers must like their jobs!

Both stores offer paper or plastic sacks, I never have to ask. Neither has "cart corrals," and it is extremely rare to see a stray cart in the parking lot. Customers return carts inside without being asked. Like many others, I will see someone unloading their cart and ask if I can take it. Genuine pleasantries are always exchanged.

Actually, both stores have baggers who will load your groceries into your car! Most times, at one market, I have to stop the bagger from walking out with me! *I* am only 32 years old and my load is typically quite light!

It is refreshing to shop where you feel appreciated and not treated like another head in a cattle herd. It is nice to be waited on by cheery people and be included in conversations with the workers, not made to feel like you are interrupting their gossip/gripe sessions. The whole town is like that...the hardware, locally-owned pharmacy, Hallmark store, etc.

Happiness is visiting Durand.

Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine - 6/14/2003 11:37:00 AM

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