Odds and Ends
I have to admit that I burned out on people long ago. I just read an article about a Walmart cashier who had a very difficult customer to deal with. Someone commented that they were very happy not to deal with the public any longer, as I suppose they work from home or are retired. I try my best to make any worker in retail to feel appreciated because I think working retail, particularly as a cashier, is a thankless job. Cashiers generally can't win.
Now some would say stores need all check-outs to be self check-outs. My wife and I both disagree and avoid using self check-outs if at all possible, unless we are buying just a few things. But one can be accused of theft if not done properly. As much as I hate Amazon, if I'm in need of just an item or two, I would prefer buying from Amazon and wait a day or two for it. Even while shopping I'll mention to my wife that instead of going all over a huge Walmart in search of an item or two, we'll just get those items from Amazon.
And no, Walmart isn't known for its customer service. My wife knows how much I hate shopping, but she needs to get out and be away from her computer, although when we are out she has her phone she checks often. If it were just me, I would order everything on-line just to avoid the hassles of dealing with people in general. No, a lot of retail customers don't always enjoy having to go out shopping. My wife would tell you that I'd rather be home smoking my pipe and do all I could do to shop on-line.
I figured you'd be thinking I'd get around to my pipe sooner or later. But it's true that the less I am around people the happier I am and it seems my wife needs to be around people even if they are all total strangers. After my heart attack, I became more reclusive and even moreso after my appendicitis. I seem content to spend most of my time by myself. But I think retail burns employees out on people fairly quick. Bit it seems since the pandemic things have not improved which is why most people prefer to work from home and be around people less.
My personality type might be more suited to being a reclusive writer than being around people in a retail setting. I know that pipe smokers would rather be around other pipe smokers or by themselves than being among a group of people. I think this is why I enjoy my pipes. I have about a hundred pages written for a book, and what I do with that remains to be seen. But the material I have for a book was all written in NY. And when I've done my videos, I sat in front of a camera not being around many people while filming.
If not for my wife I most likely would not have a social life at all, but would probably become the reclusive writer I always wanted to be. But it's easy to burn out on people when you have to be around people to do a job. Socializing is one thing, but working is quite another. I would rather smoke a pipe and write than doing anything else. I'm smoking my Lee Van Cleef Meerschaum pipe this morning and I notice it is darkening quite nicely. I can get lost in thought sometimes leaving my wife wondering if I'm okay.
I just finished a bowl of Old Professor and will now fill my pipe with Vanilla Custard. At least I don't think we need to go out shopping today, leaving me wondering if I'll work on my book. I might. Thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.
Dave
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