Scott the bagger

I went grocery shopping today and thought about Scott the bagger. I never found out his last name, but for several years he bagged my groceries at Kroger. Scott was one of those reassuring constants that I so often take for granted. He had a severe stutter and I got the feeling he'd been dealt a tough hand by life, but he was always cheerful and fun to talk to if you were patient enough. I think he bothered some of the cashiers, the typical "I don't give a damn, just get out of my line" type. Some of the customers probably felt the same way. But Scott brightened my day every single time I went into Kroger. I never would go to any line but his. This was a guy who, I'm sure, had a hard time in life, especially in relations with other people - it's a cruel world - but he put all his effort into a job most people take because they can't get another. He put similar things together and made sure nothing was crushed or bruised. He put heavy things in two bags so the bottom wouldn't drop out. He took pride in doing the best job that could be done. And he talked to me. Over the course of those years I found out we share a liking of the Peanuts comic strip. When I left he would always wish me a nice day in a genuinely happy voice. One week he wasn't there, and I haven't seen him since. I hope his hours changed and just no longer overlapped with my weekly grocery day and time, or that he got a better job where more people will appreciate him and what he does. But I miss him. It was a small thing, a few minutes out of each week, but it's funny how the smallest things can make the biggest difference sometimes.

Song of the night is "Waiting for the Light to Change" by Tonic. That's just what I'm doing.