Oh, That Face

Monday, February 19, 2024

Yesterday, this beauty accompanied her person to my checkout station. She’s a mixed breed: Afgan Hound and Aussie. She has an Afgan’s head and that sighthound’s long coat. Her body is stocky, an Aussie-type. Her person adores her, and me, too, upon sighting her.

While working, I have fun saying hello to the dogs there in person. I also get to meet some not inside the store because customers being checked out tell me about their dogs. I’m a “dog person,” and that topic easily comes up. Many customers reach for cell phones, search for photos of their dogs, and share them with me. Those moments are among the best in my workdays.

It’s part of what makes this little city’s biggest department store a kind of family place for its customers and employees. There’s lots of familiarity; for example, regardless of whether I’m working in Intimates, Dresses, Juniors, or the Home and Men’s Departments, customers tell me vignettes, a little about themselves and their families, dogs, and travels, upcoming and past.

I try hard (and often fail) to remember faces and names correctly and who’s told which stories. Sometimes, I don’t recognize my ex-coworkers who shop up shopping. Usually, they identify themselves and we enjoy reunions. My memory distractions are because of focusing on technical elements in my working role. The store’s cash registers, populated with minds of their own, make major a goal of operating them quickly and accurately.

Usually, I recognize customers returning and bringing their dogs and recall their stories.

Dear Friends: This pet-friendly city puts dogs and horses right up there with sports. Diana