Leaving Frustrations in Aisle 18 at the Hardware Store
The other day I stopped at the hardware store just around the corner to pick up some random things I needed. I walked in and there was a young employee at the register who immediately asked if I needed any help. I said I was looking for that, “you know, the igniter you use instead of matches to light a candle?” He not only could translate my befuddled description of that igniter thing, he pointed in the direction of Aisle 18. And then appeared another gentleman with a store name badge who invited me to follow him. As we approached isle 18, he told me to turn left and it will be on the wall about ½ way down; and then he added, “It’s towards the top.” And just like that, it was. Upon returning to the checkout, the young cashier asked if there was anything else I might need. I remembered I was out of tape, and again he pointed this time to Aisle 12 on the right, just around the corner from the new display of Christmas wrapping paper. Again, there it was. Not a wasted step in the whole hardware store experience. I mean, talk about simple pleasures.
I found myself immersed in such appreciation for these hardware employees who apparently knew the entirety of the store’s inventory not only by isle number, but also by shelf location. Their direction was like giving coordinates to a sand dollar nestled in a distant beach. I mean, I can’t even recall what’s in my own kitchen sometimes. If someone were to ask me where my rolling pin is, I might offer the possibility of three different places. And even then I’m not so sure. If not for the helpful intervention by such pleasant hardware store employees, I might still be walking the isles looking for that igniter thing.
Unbeknownst to anyone in the hardware store, earlier in the day I left my house packed with plans to tackle a whole list of to-do’s only to find my car battery was dead. After paying a small fortune to have the battery rebooted, my grocery store run ended up being a bust. I mean, when you have a list of ingredients designated to make stuffed shells for dinner and the store is out of jumbo pasta shells, that’s a problem. There’s nothing I love more than to store hop (absolutely not true). My multi-grocery store search for jumbo pasta shells left me a bit salty. I mean, are pasta shells part of the trade wars? Why can’t I find them anywhere? Then, to top off this day that was bordering on most annoying, I received a call from my dentist’s office informing me I missed my appointment. I guess a dead car battery makes your mind forget everything else. Now, I know these are not major issues, but the culmination of one irritation on top of another left me thinking the day was a bust.
Who knew a random and unplanned trip to the hardware store would completely change the tide of my frustrating day. I mean, who doesn’t appreciate being asked, “How can I help?” And then to be given such detailed instructions in how to find exactly what you need was simply fabulous after such a bothered day. It’s those simple delights that have the power to morph a negative day into appreciation that lingers long past the checkout line.
If only I’d remembered to ask this very helpful cashier if the store had jumbo pasta shells.