Ode to the Safeway guy

I think it’s very important to enjoy your job. Whatever you do, whether its sorting used romance novels by sub-genre or pulling weeds or making pottery, if you’re not content to do that work then this unhappiness will not only manifest elsewhere in your life, but it will osmotically infiltrate others around you. Case in point: there have been times at the grocery store when I have found stock-people so unhelpful that I imagine I would have been better off wandering around aimlessly for twice as long. Or, to the contrary, let me describe an encounter I had recently with someone from the produce department at my local supermarket.

I was greeted by two gentlemen unloading crates of long English cucumbers. I began my lap around the perimeter of the store with the sweet peppers and kept my eyes peeled for what veggies were on special. I browsed through crates of melons, carrots, broccoli, and lemons, stopping here and there for mushrooms, spinach, purple onion, and garlic. When I made my way to the (over priced, though at times necessary) fresh herb section I was dismayed to find that all the fresh basil was sold out. I didn’t despair though, and instead went over to one of the stock guys who now was rearranging bags of pre-washed lettuces. I explained the state of the empty hook where the basil ought to have been and he quickly disappeared through the double swinging double doors in search of more. When he returned his hands were full of bright new basil and he flipped through all the packages looking for the best ones for me.

As I thanked him and walked away, he asked what I was cooking and I told him that eventually all these ingredients would be pizza. He asked if he could have some and I said I’d think about it. Before he went back to his lettuces, he pointed out the vine ripened tomatoes, “On sale, and ready to eat” he said. They were certainly both of those things. Dinner was omelette with finely minced garlic and shallots, basil, feta, and diced tomatoes. I would just like to say thanks to that awesome produce guy. It doesn’t take much to step up for your customers, and his thoughtfulness resulted in a broad smile across my face as I made my way over to the baking aisle.