Monday, November 25, 2013

Saturday morning, loving that cookie and customer service

On an overcast, very cloudy, routine-trip-to-the-hardware-store kind of Saturday, it was lovely to see that someone loves someone else enough to write, "I LOVE YOU!" on their truck.  Click to enlarge.

- The hardware store is in a makeshift storefront space in a strip shopping center across the street from its stand-alone location (in that clearing between the trees beyond the truck).  It burned to the ground at the end of December last year and had been known as the largest Ace Hardware store in the country.  The owners of the store have taken care of employees and it is wonderful to see them all working in this new temporary location, while they contemplate rebuilding.

- At the grocery store nearby (Publix), a smiling worker in the bakery area gives a cookie to an earnest looking little boy, who is shopping with his father.  He trails around behind his father, eating it slowly, savoring every bite.

- Another smiling worker, this time in the produce department, observes me frowning at the cilantro.  It doesn't smell like cilantro to me, I tell her.  She scurries to the back to see if there's any more.  There isn't.  I buy it anyway and wave off her apologies.  It's lovely to see people who care about customers.

19 comments:

Jannie Funster said...

No. I am first?

Am I?

Let's see... :)

Jannie Funster said...

I think I'm going to write I Love You on hubby's truck!

Gosh, how did the fire start?

Now, I want a cookie! :)

xoxo

Elephant's Child said...

What a heart-warming post. I hope both cookies and love come your way this week.

Granny Annie said...

Lynn, you are such a "glass half full" kind of person. My first thought with the writing on the truck is "Someone has a stalker". If only I could be more like you.

Fireblossom said...

I love this whole post!

TALON said...

The writing on the truck made me smile. All lovely things, Lynn. How horrific about the loss of the business, but how amazing they are making it work in spite of the difficulties!

Lee said...

What a great feeling to get from just a simple outing like that. It should happen more often. :)

It brought a smile to my face and warmth to my heart!

LL Cool Joe said...

What a cool message to find on your truck! As long as it wasn't written with nail polish!

What always makes me smile whenever I walk into an ACE store is they shout "Hi what are you looking for?" and I confuse them by answering with my British accent saying "Nothing, I'm just looking around". They so want to tell me it's in aisle 12. :D

Lynn said...

Jannie -

You were first! And if you write I Love You on hubby's truck, make sure you take a photo and post about it. I like that kind of "paying it forward".

xoxoo

Elephant's Child -

Thank you - I hear there will be cookies at work today! Love - most definitely when I get to my sister's house Wednesday pm. :)

Granny Annie -

That's what makes the world go 'round - that we are all different. I like you just as you are.

FB -

Thanks FB!

Lynn said...

Talon -

I'm glad I made you smile. :) And it is wonderful that the business is literally rising from the ashes.

Jannie asked what started the fire and I forgot to say - most news reports say the cause was inconclusive. The first report I heard from word of mouth was that someone rolled a still hot barbecue grill inside and that's what started the fire. The 2nd thing I heard was that it was one of those small heaters left on and it somehow malfunctioned.

Lee -

It was one of those mornings that made me happy just to be.

Joe -

True. I hope not. And they are generally very welcoming at those stores.

Leonora said...

Cilantro,Parsley, who can tell the difference? Ha,ha,ha!
I bought the wrong one once and it ruined everything.

Joanne said...

So much good at this time of year!

Sparkling Red said...

I remember reaching up to take a sugar cookie from a lady at "The Little Pie Shoppe", the bakery down the street from my childhood home. It's no longer there, and that's a shame. I can still remember the exact taste of their goodies. No one else makes them quite the same.

G. B. Miller said...

It's very refreshing to read about a business owner taking care of their employees like that.

Kudos to them!

Chatty Crone said...

I do like Publix too!!!!!!!!

Riot Kitty said...

That's sweet with the truck!

You know, I have cilantro growing in pots. You're always welcome to visit ;)

Betty Manousos said...

hi lynn, here's wishing you and yours a happy thanksgiving filled with love and delicious food!

big hugs!



the writing on the track made me smile btw.

Lynn said...

Leonora -

Seems as though people either love cilantro or don't - I love it. :) But I don't think that was cilantro I bought - although it was labeled as such.

Joanne -

I'll say!

Sparkling Red -

What a lovely memory!

Lynn said...

G -

I think so, too.

Sandie -

They are so friendly there, aren't they?

Riot Kitty -

My niece in Portland keeps inviting me, too. I'll do that sometime.

Betty -

There will definitely be delicious food. :) I hope your Thanksgiving is wonderful, too!

Big Hugs!