1.24.2006

good things

I witnessed two simultaneous random acts of kindness that have restored my faith in humanity. I was at Trader Joe's grabbing some bananas, blueberries, and an unagi roll. The express line for 15 items and fewer was long but I figured it would go fast and I was in no rush. One lady in the express line went over to one of the normal check out lines with a small armfull of items. The woman in front of her with a big cartload of food let the lady in front of her. At almost the same time, the same thing happened at the check out line one row over. Some guy let another person with fewer items in front of him. Not only have I never seen this, I've never seen this happen twice at the same time. Awesome. So people in this world aren't all hateful and selfish.

7 comments:

Tashiwa said...

Oh man, I witnessed the exact opposite act of non-kindness at the supermarket last night. We were standing in line at the express checkout (8 items or less) and this guy and his wife unload a whole cartful of groceries onto the conveyor belt. The cashier told him it was an express line and he had too many items but he just said "Sorry, I can't unload it all and go to another checkout line. Go ahead." She tried to nicely inform him that it's not okay and he brushed her off with "I said I was sorry and made a mistake. It won't happen again, okay? Cash it out." RUDE! But she was nice and did it anyways to avoid further confrontation. The rest of us in line were pissed and gave him dirty looks the whole time.

whatupwilly said...

i also have a theory that you are more likely to see this "nice" shopping behavior at a place like Trader Joe's vs. Safeway...

People who eat organic food have a tendancy to have more body hair and to be a little sweeter.

Fumbling said...

Tasha, hehe not surprised. I still think most people are evil and vile.

Wilco, you're totally right. I used to go there when I was in a bad mood just so someone (the cashier) would be nice to me.

head dump said...

try witnessing that at Ranch 99

Rose said...

"I still think most people are evil and vile." Aw come on Van, do you really feel this way? You've gotta be more positive...I think most people are kind and have a good heart, although sometimes it's not always apparent. If most people really are evil, our race is doomed...and that's just not the case.

Anonymous said...

Sup Vanessa! Haven't checked back here in awhile. Maybe I should turn off comments on my blog so that my @$$h0L3 ex-bf stops harassing me ... but then I'd be missing out on all the great comments everyone else leaves ..

Which sorta ties into what you've written here. I do think that Trader Joe-ians tend to be on the nicer side (hairier? hahaha). The occasional observation of spontaneous acts of kindness is totally uplifting for me, and gets me into a "Pay It Forward" mode, which makes me kinder for a little while, until there's enough vileness that makes me coldly cordial once again.

It's so easy to notice all the crap, and overlook the sunshine.

No, I don't think there is such thing as spontaneous acts of kindness at Ranch 99. :) - ihatepink.com

Fumbling said...

Rose, you need look no further than Craigslist rants and raves to see just how racist, hateful, and ignorant people are in your own community. I choose not to sugar coat my own view of the world. I want to live in reality, not fantasy land.