I had the nicest Walmart check-out person today..

Yes, I know what you mean. I, too, look like I am about 18 to 20 years old. But I am only 29... I don't want to hear the word old either on my end.. Nor too young...

Enjoy it while you can! I thought it was a curse to look younger than 21 when I was in my 20's and 30's and even when I was 40 some clerk asked for my ID--I kissed him! Personally, I think I look every one of my 54 years but it's nice to know I'm mistaken. I don't know why I think that way, I don't mind looking my age because God knows I'm lucky to have lived this long as wild as I've been, but it's a nice compliment.

Tell that to my ex-husband! Thanks!

Marquand is in Missouri.

Oh, such a beautiful state, such nice people!!! I've always enjoyed traveling through Missouri. Everywhere I ever went, people were nice, considerate, polite, funny and friendly without exception. I actually considered it when I was able to move from Arizona but opted for Ohio, the state I grew up in. You can be proud to be from Missouri!

I definitely agree with that! I will always try to get plants and hardware and things from local, small stores. I want to support small businesses that give so much back to my community as well as getting superior customer service. Usually, I know what I want and would rather be left alone. Small businesses seem to know when I want to be left alone but the employees are never far away if I need help. And they seem to like helping, unlike the huge chain stores! I'll pay a little more, even, to shop at smaller stores. I think the benefit to the community is worth it, as well as getting better service. And good for you for supporting them, as well! If everyone did, we'd have a better country. Where in the world is Marquand?

I'm never hesitant about giving my age, I'm proud I've lived 54 years and also surprised, as wild as I was my first 30 years! It's also a miracle I don't look like the picture of Dorian Grey!

Men usually look younger than women, it's not fair! Yes, even though I'm proud of my age I don't mind if people think I'm younger. It's always nice to hear it, especially on those days when I'm feeling like I'm about 90 years old!

Best wishes on your businesses! I don't know how you function with FM and Lupus, both such cruel diseases. You have a lot of spunk! Wish you lived near me, with my arthritis and bad back we could work together and probably be as efficient as one whole person.

I'll assume you'll read this tomorrow (or this morning, in my time zone, I need to go to bed, too!!) so I hope you had a great sleep! Yep, the world can be pretty lousy and Walmart has some reprehensible practices. They are heartless and cold, like any big corporation. I wish that people would all quit the "big box" stores and go to work for the community small businesses--but then, the small businesses would become big box stores, wouldn't they? I have found, through painful experience, that it's better to ignore the jerks and pay attention to the people that try to improve my life. My clerk had nothing to gain with her friendliness and the compliment. She just enjoys people. I prefer to dwell on this kind of people than the jerks I often deal with--I usually feel sorry for them, they must've had a fight with their spouse or maybe their teenager got into trouble and they just can barely cover their shift before they explode. It's a tough world out there. Anything we can do to help someone else survive will help us survive. It IS a wonderful world if you're looking for the good stuff. I used to think that was a lot of horse crap but truly, it's the way I have to be. 90% of people are good--it's just the other 10% that make themselves so highly visible that so many people feel the world is lousy. Ha! I butted into someone conversation at the Walmart deli today. A wonderful mom who was talking with her little girl and telling her how to order suddenly said to her husband "I'm gonna f*%& that b*%&^ up" referring to a young, impudent customer that took a long time with her order. She never said why, but I think it had to do with time. I told the mom to go ahead of me and she calmed down. Most of today's unpleasantness could be avoided if people would relax and get their priorities figured out. GEEZ, HOW I'VE RAMBLED ON!! I gotta get to bed, it's 12:35AM and the dogs are telling me it's time! You raised such an interesting subject, though. Sorry for the lecture!!

Thanks for the nice response. I just woke up so this may not be as coherent as I'd like, but I had to respond to your response. I thought that was such a nice thing you did for that woman and her family. It probably (hopefully!) made her think about her attitude and make some adjustments. One can only hope, eh? I always leave rude cashiers with a "Have a nice day," or evening or whatever time it happens to be, along with a big smile. Maybe, just maybe, one of them will start to think. Yes, I've had the attitude for years that you never know what is going on in their lives. Maybe a kind gesture or even a smile can make a big difference in their day, or even their entire perspective. Emotions are contagious and I try to spread the good ones around. I'm glad to hear that you do, too. Oh, I think the answer is that we need more small businesses. Then the employees of the big ones can leave the big stores. I live in an area where there are many small businesses. I live in Virginia which is mainly an agricultural state and not much opportunity for employment unless you are a farmer, so many small businesses have cropped up. I think they're great! As a matter of fact, my husband and I have just applied for an incorporation of his business, designing circuit boards for computers. We hope to hire a few people to help with the overload. I am also an avid gardener and hope to one day be able to sell some of my seedlings to nurseries, and fruits/veggies to smaller markets. I'll need help, because I have fibromyalgia and lupus and cannot harvest and package everything myself, so I, too, will be giving at least 1 person employment, even if it is seasonal. I would love to see the giant corporations fall. But I am only one person and can only do so much. Sigh! Keep up the good work (deeds) and have yourself a great day! "Nice people of the world, unite!"

So you're right there in the midst of battle, huh? You're a brave person! Customer service is my least favorite job because people look on you like some sort of servant with no feelings. As you said, though, some are very nice and it nearly makes up for all the jerks you have to wait on.

Very well said, and so true!