There are many things I love about having a local grocery store, right off Main Street in Melrose. There is the quick run-in to get a gallon of milk or apples for school lunches. There are the many local kids working the registers, faces I recognize from kindergarten days, now grown, some with deep voices, all with perfect manners (‘How’s it going today?” they ask). There is the customer service manager, Sharon, who has embraced Melrose Random Acts of Kindness Day with zest and vigor. Just watch the extra dose of kindness she serves on November 20th.
My favorite thing about Shaw’s, however, is Joel.
Although I am confident Joel’s responsibilities are many, I see him most often collecting shopping carts, restoring them to their rightful location, at the store entrances. As I load my car with groceries, he joins me, grabs the cart, says a quick hello. Recently, he’s been espousing the perks of living independently. He tells me he takes the bus home, watches TV in his free time. As I anticipate my next obligation, Joel’s after work routine sounds decadent. When he leaves me, Joel smiles, wishes me a good day. And with his wish, my day becomes one.
When I am overwhelmed, hoping to race in and out, Joel greets me with Christmas carols. It matters not if it is December or July, he sings with joy and passion. There is certainly nothing sweeter than being reminded, in mid-summer, of the silent night that awaits us. The sun beats down, the dog days are upon us, yet Joel’s melody sends snowflakes. As surely as he is a cool breeze in August, warmth emanates from him in colder months. His face beams spring time, makes me hopeful.
Simply by being himself, Joel reminds me to slow down, be present, be grateful for all that life offers. He takes his job seriously, personally connecting with the harried parent, the bored pulled-along kid, the senior perusing produce. In a world that is too hurried, too divided, too busy, the universe gives us Joel. Thanks, universe. #melrosekind
