Counting out his change.

[thundley4]

Robb   (1000+ posts)             Sun Dec-27-09 06:20 PM
Original message
Counting out his change.
   

I was in line at the grocery today. As I usually do, I was in the "15 items or less" line, the one that's staffed with a person, because I want him to keep his job instead of being replaced with the self-scan thingie.

Which is another discussion, probably. But anyhow.

Two people in front of me was an older gentleman. I mean to say he was 90 if he was a day. Moving slowly. But with purpose.

He had his groceries, and if his pace was any measure this was the big outing for the day. He was buying a lot of store-brand stuff, prepared food and canned goods, the sort of thing a man of his years might be making for himself, by himself, if he's managed to avoid being placed in anothers' care.

And he was counting out his change, because he had cash. And exact change. And it was taking a good, long time.

I was in no particular hurry. The guy in between us in front of me was, I think, and was tapping his fingers and hands. But it was the cashier that impressed me.

Young man, I'm going to say 19. Took his time. Waited for the older gent. Helped with some counting where it was appropriate. Respectful, just right. Loaded the guy's goods into the cart after bagging, offered further help (which was politely declined) and thanked him and wished him a good day.

I told the cashier kid when I got to the front I had watched the whole thing and wanted him to know I thought he did great. And the kid looked at me and just said "Well, I figure we're all going to be that age someday, and I just want people to treat me well when I get there."

A kid. And he nailed it. I told him again I was impressed, and wanted him to know it. He said thanks, and seemed a little embarrassed someone noticed. But it was clear someone raised him right.

I walked out into the parking lot wondering why it was I was so moved by someone simply behaving like a decent human being. 

  http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7335501

I'm guessing that if this really happened, then you were amazed because it's something you never see when you surround yourself with DUmmie friends.

NYC_SKP   (1000+ posts)             Sun Dec-27-09 06:23 PM
Response to Original message
1. Why were you moved? Maybe because witnessing this kind of interaction is far too uncommon.
   
But it's always heartwarming to witness.

Thank you for thanking him and for sharing the story.

Actually, it's pretty common outside of DUmmieland. I have never encountered the rudeness and spite that most DUmmie bouncies contain.

jillan   (1000+ posts)             Sun Dec-27-09 06:32 PM
Response to Original message
2. It is so rare when you see true respect for another human being.
   
Thank you for sharing that... 

Once again, it isn't rare when you get away from liberal areas.

tblue   (1000+ posts)           Sun Dec-27-09 07:16 PM
Response to Original message
5. Gave me chills!
   
Gives you hope for the next generation, doesn't it?

I love stories like this. YOU did good, too, by giving that young man his props, even if he didn't need them. Thank you for sharing.

OnceUponTimeOnTheNet (1000+ posts)             Sun Dec-27-09 08:47 PM
Response to Original message
8. K&R. It's experiences like this when we see life is good.
   
This is always my favorite part of DU, the shared story of the grocery line experience.

Mine too, I love the the checkout line bouncies, but this one sucked.

Robb   (1000+ posts)             Sun Dec-27-09 09:07 PM
Response to Reply #8
9. LOL! Thanks.
   
...It has become almost a DU cliché, hasn't it? 

and the last.

phasma ex machina   (859 posts)         Mon Dec-28-09 09:31 AM
Response to Original message
13. +1 "we're all going to be that age someday."
   
That very thought struck me after young corporate sharks made chum out of old geezers a few rungs higher up on the old corporate ladder

You just had to ruin the mood trying to get some DU cred, didn't you?

[GOBUCKS]

This is always my favorite part of DU, the shared story of the grocery line experience.

But not one, not even one, has ever been true.

[JohnnyReb]

Might be true....DUmmie was visiting in a red state and met a kid raised by evil conservative Christian parents......how dare they not raise a kid to be rude.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

We should have a secial government program to pay for elderly assistance at every checkout counter. If you do not approve you hate old people and want to harvest them for their organs.

[Specbid]

Kid's probably a card carrying member of the Young Republicans at Liberty or OR Univ. That would blow this DUmmie's head right off.

[Karin]

I could have sworn this bouncy thread was going to bemoan the plight of old people counting out their change.  They really should have a huge SS increase and more generous food stamps.  Or, how awful it is that the evil corporations who own the food supply system insist on the siezure of old peoples' last pennies for their Folgers and Campbell's soup. 

[Specbid]

I could have sworn this bouncy thread was going to bemoan the plight of old people counting out their change.  They really should have a huge SS increase and more generous food stamps.  Or, how awful it is that the evil corporations who own the food supply system insist on the siezure of old peoples' last pennies for their Folgers and Campbell's soup. 

Folgers and Campbell's? Nah, he was buying "store-brand stuff" according to the DUmmie.

[thundley4]

I could have sworn this bouncy thread was going to bemoan the plight of old people counting out their change.  They really should have a huge SS increase and more generous food stamps.  Or, how awful it is that the evil corporations who own the food supply system insist on the siezure of old peoples' last pennies for their Folgers and Campbell's soup. 

An old person counting their change is routine.  I see them using coupons, and counting their change to pay their bill to the exact penny, even with a purse or wallet full of bills.  It may have something to do with not trusting the younger generations math skills. (I don't blame them)

[Karin]

I see it all the time from people of all ages.  It doesn't really pull on my heart strings.  Money is money.  I had an Amish guy count out 87 cents for me.  That not being enough, he promised to bring us some of his wife's homemade bread (this is NOT a bouncy).  Barter is barter.  Worked for me. 

[ScubaGuy]

If the DUmmie really wanted to help the employee out he should have done what I do when I witness exceptional service.  Tell the store manager.

Too often the store manager only hear when an employee screws up but never hear anything about which employees are going out of their way to help customers.  

[The Village Idiot]

But not one, not even one, has ever been true.

this one might be true. DUmmie shocked and stunned to see a decent human being decent to someone.

That never happens in DUmmieland.

[jukin]

Kid's probably a card carrying member of the Young Republicans at Liberty or OR Univ. That would blow this DUmmie's head right off.

Exactly what I thought, kid for sure voted Republican.

[AllosaursRus]

Hell, I count out exact change all the time! The one thing I HAVE noticed is, very rarely do I see actual cash used. Tis' the era of plastic!

[BlueStateSaint]

Hell, I count out exact change all the time! The one thing I HAVE noticed is, very rarely do I see actual cash used. Tis' the era of plastic!

Whenever I'm lucky enough to have exact change for a cashier, they generally smile and say, "That's rare to have exact change."  I've been told by a few of them that they really appreciate it.

[SilverOrchid]

Kid could have been a Christian. That would freak them out.

[Thor]

If the DUmmie really wanted to help the employee out he should have done what I do when I witness exceptional service.  Tell the store manager.

Too often the store manager only hear when an employee screws up but never hear anything about which employees are going out of their way to help customers.  

That's what I try to do, but it's rare. I don't often experience GOOD customer service and to me, it's of great benefit to inform the manager when at all possible.

[diesel driver]

When I worked as a cashier at Walmart, I usually got stuck on the "20 or less" lane near the door.

I would joke with the customers when they came up with more than 20 items and asked if it was ok to check out in my lane.

I'd tell them, "Sure, but I charge double for every item over 20."   

I got a lot of repeat customers in my lane, no matter where I was....

[miskie]

This kid sounds like a Christian Conservative to me, and is getting recognition at DU ?

Someone needs to tell the primitive this isn't how one spins a bouncy tale.