I just returned from a shopping run for necessities (coffee, milk, peanut butter, dog chews, paper plates…) on a day that I have no time for it, but today is senior discount day, and ten bucks is ten bucks.
Having finished my pathetic widower’s mission, I was in the parking lot unloading my cart while thinking about other things, like how horrible the Red Sox loss was last night, the seminar materials deadline I have today, how I am still such a mess that hearing the sappy finale to “A Chorus Line” (“What I Did For Love”) in the car choked me up.
I was almost done when I noticed that a woman was patiently (and quietly) waiting for me to get my grocery cart out of the way so she could park in the space next to me. “Sorry! Sorry!” I shouted as I moved the cart. After she got out of her car, I went over to her and said, “I am so so sorry for making you wait like that! I was just zoned out and didn’t realize you were there.”
She said, “Sir, the fact that you just apologized made my day. Usually people who do something like that just ignore you; they never apologize. Of course you’re forgiven, but also thank-you, for restoring some of my faith in the human race.”
And she smiled.
Sometimes this ethics stuff pays off…
There is hope.
Ethics Alarms 
And the fact that she thanked you instead of griping about a few seconds’ wait is a good sign, too.
I told her, “I wouldn’t have blamed you if you ran me down.”
Little things in life can make such a difference.
Dad’s text message from last night…
“Red Sox really blew a chance to sweep tonite.” …prefaced by a “GRRR” emoticon.
He was very frustrated by it, too.
It was wonderful that you apologized…and that the woman was so gracious. Good on everyone!!
Of course you both realize that I was watching that game, thrilled beyond measure that the Rangers were finally able to come back in a game and then not blow the lead. It was really good to see.
I know that the Rangers have no realistic hopes left for this year, but……still a fan.
I actually thought about you during the game!
Nice story! Made my day too.
An interesting note regarding Harris Teeter. Since we had the tropical storm come through last Thursday, Harris Teeter added Monday as a makeup Senior Day.
So if I put together a pickup order this evening for tomorrow, that will give me three such days in the last eight.
I have found that if I place the order on Thursday I get the discount even if I am picking it up on Friday.
Finding stuff like that is why I am the grocery shopper for the household.
Well, an update — Harris Teeter shows the senior discount when you place the order, but it gets removed when they process the actual charge on Friday.
*sigh* Oh, well, it was a nice fantasy, but good to know for sure.
I had a similar experience today. I lost a case I should have won (and I still can’t figure out how I bungled it . . .), so I was feeling unloved, unwanted, and unappreciated.
As I got back to the office, I saw the building manager as she was getting into her car, who “chided” me for finally getting into the office at the bright early hour of 4:00 pm. (She really is nice and quick with a quip.) Well, bruised-feelings boy snapped that “I’d been at it since 7:30 this morning.”
I realized immediately after that I was a tool. I stopped turned around and approached her window. After a moment’s hesitation, she opened her window and I apologized for taking my bad day out on her.
She was gracious and forgiving, asking why I was uncharacteristically snarky. I told her about my case. She looked at me and declared I needed chocolate, whereupon she produced a mini Snickers bar, telling me chocolate fixes a lot of stuff. She was in her rights to send me backing but she was kind. That helped nurse the wounds.
jvb
This is why I always try to be nice and polite (at least at first) out in public. Sometimes you run across nice people who still care about being decent human beings.