I was thinking of my RAK as I was in the grocery today.
I've talked here on my blog a few time about my love-hate
relationship with the checkout baggers and how they seem to love
squishing your fragile items with heavy cans and jars. haha.
I usually just kindly say things like, "Here, lets not put that
heavy bag of potatoes on top of the bread", ..things like that.
Today there were two girls bagging my items and they had a second
cart between me and them, so I couldn't get close enough to
supervise! And no, I don't think it was on purpose. haha...
They were new and didn't know me!
One of them offered to push my cart out to the parking lot for me
and even though I usually decline this kind of help, I thought I'd
go ahead and let her do it so I could give her a tip for her efforts.
She even loaded most of the bags into my jeep so I surprised
her with $10 and said thank you so much for helping.
She was shocked and her big smile was my reward. :)
I had to laugh though as I was driving home and hit the
brakes fairly hard when someone pulled out in front of me.
One of the shopping bags behind me flung against my seat
and an entire bunch of grapes flew into the front seat and
landed on the gear shift beside me. Goodness! At least
they had been placed on the top of the bag and didn't have the
potatoes squishing them. :)
If you'd like to participate in this RAK challenge,
go HERE to Manu's blog and link up!
It's lots of fun and as you do a random act of kindness,
you'll discover that the blessing is actually yours to receive.
♥
Maybe everything happens for a reason? :-) Our grocery stores here have a no-tip policy (although it's been many years since I've had enough bags to need help).
ReplyDeleteI have no idea if our grocery has a policy one way or the other!
DeleteBut it was fun to do anyway.
That's the kind of thing that usually happens to me. I lay my groceries on the belt in the order I want them packed. Bottles first, cans next, packets, then the hard veg, biscuits, soft fruit, eggs. Inevitably they usually go for the fragile stuff first like the biscuits and then throw the bottles and cans in after them, breaking them up. I despair sometimes, thinking it must be God's will that I will live on broken biscuits for ever . . . !
ReplyDeleteI do the same thing....lay everything in the order I want it packed. They never do it that way...they reach for other items and do it exactly the opposite I would do it! haha...
DeleteOne of my countless jobs I had paying my way through university was as a checkout clerk. The stories I could tell you. But we were expertly trained on how to handle and bag groceries and I have never forgotten. It's an art to be able to do it well and have everything as compactly, safely packed as possible.
ReplyDeleteThe closest store to me is a pack-your-own and I like that. But when I stray from there I keep a very watchful eye on the checkout staff. Poor things. :-)
I prefer the pack your own, too! I love my grocery but I seriously doubt if they teach the baggers how to do it properly. They only they are religious about is not putting toiletries with food. I always laugh at that...they act like it wouldn't be safe but I honestly don't care if my bottle of lotion is in a bag with a can of beans. haha. They don't even put all the cold things together. So you see, the tip really was an act of kindness. lol...oh my.
DeleteCold things together is so basic. Oh dear. Yes, your trip TRULY was an act of kindness!
DeleteThat one really bugs me, especially in the summer!
DeleteI love this. It doesn't seem that they teach baggers how to do it anymore. Does it?
ReplyDeleteI would love for you to link this post with Thoughts of Home on Thursday. :)
Really? OK...I'll check it out. :)
DeleteStacey, it looks fun but I don't see how my post fits with that link-up.
DeleteI'd love to join in another time and make it a homey type post, ok?
This is a WONDERFUL story! As Carl's job is to make certain groceries are packed 'just so' I am going to share this with him. He is not supposed to accept tips per company policy, but every now and then he tells me he does! It is so gratifying to know he is appreciated by customers and co-workers. Though when I remind him he will say "whatever."
ReplyDeletewhatever...haha...I love it. :) Something tells me Carl is much better than our baggers! And how nice that occasionally someone bends the rule and tips him!
DeleteThat was a very generous RAK. Packing the grocery bags seems so common sense to me. Maybe some of these checkers need to start shopping for themselves to understand that grapes and bread get squished at the bottom of the bag....I'm just saying....
ReplyDeleteYou would think it was common sense but I've seen it weekly for years. I always try to rescue the bananas and bread! haha.
DeleteTut, and there was me thinking you made your own bread. I made a sourdough bread this morning with a starter I bought from the famous San Francisco bakery.
DeleteI made bread last week! But I don't always.
DeleteA nice impromptu RAK and that look on her face must have been worth every cent of the $10 bill.
ReplyDeleteYou were fortunate that your 'tenders' were not squashed . . lol
Now, tell me, when the grapes flew into your reach did you eat them? . . . haha
I've just posted mine . . .
It would be nice to get more participants . . . :)
No squashing my tenders! lol....oh, you are hilarious!
DeleteNo, I didn't eat the grapes....my OCD wouldn't let me do that until I washed them. haha.
hahaha!
DeleteThought that would exercise your chuckle muscle . . . :)
Well, you usually do!
Deletehaha the grapes came out
ReplyDeleteWanted to fly about
Or maybe get eaten
Germs only sweeten?
Nice of her to help out too
And a nice tip from you
At least they all stayed in a bunch
Deleteand didn't roll about and get all scrunched.
Might find a few under the seat
much later when they aren't still sweet. lol...
That was a very generous gesture on your part and who knows the bagger may have engineered the bags just so....so that when you hit the breaks, you get a snack. I bought grapes today, too. Black ones! Can't get enough!
ReplyDeleteYum...I like them when they are really crispy. Spencer is our big grape eater here....about 8 pounds a week! lol....crazy kid.
DeleteI normally lay everything out as I want it packed, too. My grocery store is maybe 5-6 mins. from my house, and I sometimes wonder what shape my produce items would be in if I lived further away. Glad to know I'm not the only OCD person out there about things like this! lol...
ReplyDeleteMarla
Yep...I'm one of those people! You pick out the best stuff and you don't want it bruised when you get home!
DeleteAnd, you made her day :)
ReplyDeleteI think so...I hope so! :)
DeleteNo one around here offers to carry out your bags, but your tip is such a nice RAK! I hope the rest of your groceries survived. :)
ReplyDeleteThe groceries weren't too bad...the bread was a little squished but that's it. :)
DeleteI think she planned it that way and surprised you with a RAK!
ReplyDeleteGrapes, that is....
DeleteYou totally lost me on this....lol....let me drink more coffee and read it again. Haha.
DeleteMaybe Christine meant the grapes flying forward were an unexpected treat for you from your checker leaving them on top? If you had eaten them, that is. Maybe I need a coffee too! Laughing.
DeleteYes, but how is that a random act of kindness? lol....Help, Christine! Maybe it's Christine that needs coffee? haha...
DeleteThanks Suza!!! You climbed into my head and sorted out my thoughts! A major feat!
DeleteSorry Betsy, glad you have loyal readers who can interpret!
Oh poor grapes :-)
ReplyDeleteI love your RAK
Thanks for taking part
The grapes survived....and got a bath. Haha
DeleteYou made her day and as you said, the blessing is also yours! Yes, I must be OCD too ... lol ... here normally no one puts your grocery nowhere ... haha ... but in the health store where I go, there they try to have the little extra touch ... and I always put the heavier things in a front this way they reach first for the heavy pumpkin and such and only by the end comes the eggs ... :-)
ReplyDeleteYes...eggs always last!
DeleteHi Betsy - flying grapes .. interesting extra terrestials around in Ohio?! Well done on the tip for the kiddo .. she will be well chuffed. When they're cashing the shopping - they take the light things first ... and I always think - why can't I have the heavy ones first so I can put them in my bag at the bottom ... but no! I keep quiet ...
ReplyDeleteI'm off to see my lady in the Nursing Centre - who's had a tough time ... and it's time I visited again .. I do try and think of others .. cheers Hilary
Chuffed...love that word. We don't use it here!
DeleteInterestingly .. the chap yesterday took the heavy stuff first for me ... so I could pack it as I wanted to - heavy stuff at the bottom ... that was a plus! Cheers and enjoy the weekend - H
DeleteWell, there you go! I'd get in his check out line next time, too!
DeleteNot only was it a wonderful and generous RAK, it was a great story and love a laugh or two or three. Don't you know we all have those baggers that think backwards. HaHa,
ReplyDeleteYes, I believe they are all over the place! haha. One time I even got in the line that had an older lady as the bagger thinking that surely she would know how to do it. Nope. She was just as bad! hahaha....
DeleteSuch a generous act - especially encouraging to a new person! We do not have this service of getting one's groceries packed (I hope it will some day :) It must though be a test of patience and kindness, to in a polite way to keep telling not to pack the potatoes on to off eggs or grapes!
ReplyDeleteSunshine to your weekend,
Nina
Thank you, Nina...great to see you!
DeleteOh my! This story reminded me of the lady who had a can of biscuits explode in her car and she thought she had been shot! I have to constantly rebag or double bag when I shop. We don't have baggers, per se..just cashiers. There is one in particular that I try to avoid who seems to enjoy putting every single glass jar in to one bag. And speaking of bags...I hate them. I much prefer paper sacks.
ReplyDeleteOh my word...that is TOO funny.
DeleteAnd you know, the plastic bags these days are soooo thin that almost everything breaks through them!
I pack my own groceries! Also OCD about how they are packed! We don't always have packers...so I pack while she rings them thru!
ReplyDeleteI hope the grapes were delicious!
Enjoy your weekend....another sunny one here!
Cheers!
Linda :o)
I actually prefer to pack my own and if I can get down there and help, I do!
Delete