Applause.

What is it with me and Target?  Every time I’m there I seem to have ‘a Target experience’.  I’m not complaining, on the contrary I plan on continuing them…I’m just a little curious…what is it with me and Target?

I wasn’t buying anything very interesting, or cute, just mundane stuff like picture hooks, because we are still surrounded by art work that belongs on a wall, not on the floor, and large garbage bags, because as I empty boxes I’m ruthlessly eliminating what we haven’t used in the past year.  Goodwill here we come. Even with boring purchases, the Check Out Assistant and I had a delightful, if short, exchange:

Me:  “Well, you’re certainly a cheerful charlie.”

C.O.A:  “I’ll be even more cheerful when my shift ends at 7.30 tonight.”

Me: ” Wow, that’s a long day”.  It was 10 am at the time.

C.O.A: “Yep, but I’m happy to be here.”

Me: “Love your attitude, it’s really great to be your customer.  I really appreciate and thank you.”

C.O.A : “You’re welcome, it’s nice to talk to you, have a great day.”  He  was beaming from ear to ear.

It all felt great.  I waltzed out of there pushing my cart, basking in the good feelings of our little exchange, a lightness in my step and a tra-la-la in my heart, soaking up the moment, oblivious to all else.

Then I noticed the cart collector, pushing what looked like one hundred carts.  Is there a proper name for cart collectors?  If so, I don’t know what it is.  But I thought I’d be helpful and give him my cart.  Oh yes my cart, which I was so happily pushing was…empty.

From behind his one hundred carts the collector was yelling and pointing behind me.  I turned to see the Check Out Assistant running out of the store with my purchases in his hand.

Was this young man experiencing a tra-la-la in his heart too that led him not to simply hand my forgotten packages to customer service, but to chase after me and personally deliver them?

Samuel Goldwyn said “when someone does something good applaud! You’ll make two people happy.”  That about sums it up, he was happy and grateful to be there, I was happy to be on the receiving end of a sunny smile.  We encouraged each other in our cheerfulness, we encouraged one another to continue to occupy that cheerful state, we applauded our individual happiness and that young man acted from that happy state.

No wonder I love that store, I get more than great shopping experiences.