Today we begin a 4-part series called A Day In the Sweet Life of Val Thevictorian, Small Town Celebrity.
Such a glorious day was Wednesday! I think I'll not have another for quite some time. Every stop had a pleasant interaction awaiting me. Had I known what was in store, I might have gotten out of bed before 9:45. But then my timing would have been off. So it seems that everything worked out just as it was supposed to, the proper threads interweaving in the rich tapestry of Val's life.
Wednesday was Walmart shopping day. Yuck! You can see why I wasn't eager to get started. However, as I was waiting at the crosswalk for a gal with a cart who never walked, I spied a car backing out of a great parking space! It was on the end nearest the doors, with room to cheat over so that even a close-parker who might be on my left when I came out could not keep T-Hoe's door from opening all the way!
I stashed my purse (don't need any 80-year-old men breaking in to steal it and then steal T-Hoe), grabbed my list, and headed toward the store. There was a cart sitting on the space where lazy people pull over to get their online-ordered groceries. I figured I could do a good deed, and grab that cart and push it inside. If the wheels worked okay, I'd keep it for shopping. Kind of like a test drive.
As I was taking the last few steps toward that cart, a blonde woman in a blue Walmart vest entered my peripheral vision. I guess she'd just arrived, or had been delivering curbside.
"Hello."
"Hello."
"Haven't I seen you in here before?"
"Probably! I'm here at least once a week."
"You look like you've lost weight."
"Oh, that's so nice! I DID. But I've gained some of it back."
"Well, you really look good."
"Thank you! That's so sweet."
Seriously. That WAS so sweet. Even cantankerous old Val couldn't be mad at that lady for commenting on her personal appearance. I guess I need to be on my best behavior when I'm out and about. If even people from Walmart recognize me.
I hope I wasn't part of a hidden camera prank. If you see me on YouTube, let me know.
Did you sneak some tips to her?
ReplyDeleteI did not. I was so flustered that I wasn't my usual giving self!
DeleteThat was a nice start to your grocery shopping, I hope things continued thusly.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the Universe took a brief respite from conspiring against me.
DeleteSo easy to be nice and makes one feel so good! Perhaps Walmart can "coach" all their employees to have pleasant interchanges with "guests". They really do refer to talking to an employee as coaching. People who spend their hard earned money are to be considered guests.
ReplyDeleteI might get annoyed with some of their cashiers' techniques, but I'd say almost all of my interactions with the employees have been pleasant. So I guess the "coaching" works.
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