Dear Diary …
Consider this an open letter to the people who work in the service industry … and I’ll start by saying, “I’m sorry.” I’m sorry that you should have to go through things like this even once in your life, and I’m even more sorry that the sad reality is it probably happens way more than that.
I watched something go down the other day at the grocery store that still bothers me today. I can’t stop thinking about. The behavior I witnessed was rude, disrespectful, and completely uncalled for. And this came from a grown woman … probably 70 years old … definitely old enough to know better.
She was in front of me at the deli counter, and she wanted to get some “low sodium beef … Boar’s Head.” And I know this, because she probably barked out that order about two dozen times … “low sodium beef … BOAR’S HEAD!” … all while flailing her arm in the air like she’s some sort of whacked-out Communist dictator when they give one of their crazy speeches.
And as sometimes happens at the deli counter … it takes the person a minute or two to find the thing you want, because it’s down there in that giant tub o’ lunch meat in the storage container that they have. Not a big deal, right?
Well to the self appointed Most Important Person in the World, it’s a huge deal. Lady Low Sodium Beef starts yelling … “Get somebody over here to help this person! Get me what I want … low sodium beef … BOAR’S HEAD!” … while also adding the charming, “And get me a friggin’ tranquilizer … what’s going on in this store today?”
I’ll tell you what’s going on in this store today … a grown woman is acting like a rotten three year old … fully on display for the whole world to see.
And the irony here is, if I told her to shut her face and quit being such a hateful troll … which is what I wanted to say … I’m sure she would’ve responded with, “How DARE you speak that way to me!” Because you know … she can speak any way she wants, but don’t you DARE disrespect Lady Low Sodium Beef!
I’m sorry, but there are people in this world fighting cancer, dealing with tragedy, struggling with addiction, or depression, or whatever. You should be on your knees thanking GOD that you get to be healthy, and also live in a country where you’re free to go to a grocery store and be a miserable wench in the first place.
To you … Lady Low Sodium Beef … I hope this somehow reaches your thick skull and makes you realize it’s time to make some changes in your life.
People who complain that “they always mess my stuff up” … yeah … did you ever stop to think that maybe it’s the way YOU act that causes this? Maybe if you changed the way you acted toward others, these things wouldn’t happen all the time?
You know what I got on Friday? A free t-shirt. Yup .. for no reason other than the fact that I’m respectful and treat people the way I want to be treated and want my kids to treat others. So somebody gave me a free t-shirt. It’s that simple.
So … to the service people … grocery store, restaurant, customer service call center … whatever it is … let me say this …
I know you spend most of your time thinking you are disrespected, looked down on, and unappreciated. And I want you to know … not everybody feels that way. Those of us that are grateful for what you do … we’re out there … we just aren’t as loud as the disrespectful minority. We know you’re out there busting your butt, and probably aren’t getting paid enough to have to deal with all the crud being slung at you on a daily basis by people that are too dense and too self absorbed to step out of their own bubble for ONE second to think about the lives of the people around them.
Keep fighting the good fight. I can at least make you this promise … when you get to me next in line you’re gonna get a please, a thank you, and a have a nice day. And hopefully the majority of your customers will do the same.
Till next time Diary … I say … Goodbye.