EDITOR – As this is a joyous time of year, I decided to write a long overdue letter of appreciation to caring people.
I live in Montclair, but travel to Checkers on the Bluff for my shopping. At age 85, I use a walker to steady myself. Quite suddenly, while in Checkers, I felt faint and called to a young assistant and asked her to help me exit the main shop where perhaps it was cooler. I sat on the seat of my walker and she pushed me to just past the cigarette kiosk.
I knew I would faint so I got up to sit on the floor and lay down. The assistants were all so concerned about me. Even the security guard came to check. Someone fetched me a comfortable padded chair and help me up. Someone else returned with a bottle of ice cold water.
A very busy supermarket; lots of customers bustling about, but someone cared about me.
In the busyness of the world these days, everyone is rushing – got to go there, got to get that, oh dear look at the time. Before an old woman in the aisle looking for this or that can move, a trolley is banging into you. Never a “sorry, my dear”, just a cross look as though old people should be at home.
Checkers management and staff allayed my feelings of anxiety and embarrassment. I was important. I was their customer. Despite my frailty I was important to them.
WENDY BRAATVELDT
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