The smallest act

Sometimes people surprise you, right?

I was at Whole Foods, Duluth last night meeting with Cassandra about our new line of bulk soaps and palm wax candles.  We chatted on about the attributes of each of the ten varieties and the logistics of getting them into the system.  I always enjoy this store.  First of all it’s closest to Athens – a mere 65+ miles just in case you thought it was down the street!  There is a “river” painted on the floor of the store that runs throughout which gives a nice flow to your shopping experience.

When I go to Whole Foods I usually venture over to the prepared foods section for a bite to eat.  One of my favorite things is their ginger snap gelato, which unfortunately is seasonal. 😦  I hated ginger snaps as a kid – they were one of 2 or 3 cookies that my Mom ever bought. She would dunk them in her tea to soften them.  I always preferred soft chewy cookies and Kroger brand ginger snaps were more like flat rocks.  In any case the gelato bar was closed much to my disappointment.  The pizza bar was closed too – now you’re thinking all I eat is junk food.

I found Oscar in the prepared foods section, a nice man from Venezuela.  He directed me to the blue plate special.  I was his only customer as the storm was still raging outside.  At one point the lights went out and emergency generators provided lighting with a soft glow; how nice.  I chose chicken, grilled pineapple and kale and avocado salad – better right?

It took about 10 minutes to warm the chicken so we had an opportunity to visit while he did his end of shift cleaning.  I shared with him that it always rains when I come to Whole Foods, and indeed I’m sure 9 times out of 10 it does.  His reply was , “I’m gonna watch for a new soap called ‘queen of the rain”.   What a funny guy, what a great idea, you should watch for it too because I really like his idea!

Here’s the real story.  When my food was ready he was about to put the plate on the counter.  It was one of those recyclable (of course) black plastic-y plates.  He suddenly pulled his arm back, and my food with it and said, “wait, I’m gonna put this on a real plate so you can feel like you’re dining at home”.  How nice, and this also meant that he would have to wash the plate too.

How is it that a gesture so small can mean so much.  That he would even think of doing this for me shook my tree.  Just one human being to another realizing that the moments that we share are really all we have and making the most of them in terms of kindness, compassion, consideration are really where it’s at.  Thanks Oscar, you made my day.

If you’re in the Duluth store, check out the beautiful Father’s Day display front and center of the Whole Body section!