Customers over 80

It’s funny the items that I ring up that require me to type in the customer’s birthday.

“I need to make sure you are old enough!”

-reactions are great-

>Most< are just as confused as me on how you would use this item for anything other than its purpose.

>Some< laugh.

I remind them while bagging the item up-

to have fun, but not to much fun.

Erupting into more laughs.

And a >few< are offended.

Hesitating and leaning forward to whisper the day and year to me.

.

Then you have

-customers over 80-

Who will walk up and just tell me their age.

•loud and proud•

No prompting.

It’s a badge of honor, like it should be.

For example, Jane G.

A spunky, petite 93 year old with long silver hair braided down her back.

A blue cardigan sweater,

And the perfect pair of jeans.

She rattles off her phone number without hesitating as I log her into the reward system.

.

I ask her what is her secret!

“Shea butter” she whispers, “but they don’t sell it at Walmart anymore and everything else is too expensive”

“No really,” I ask “what is your secret-

You see my goal is to live till I am 103”

“Well, I exercise” she replies.

Me:  got that

“I also do a lot of yard work, I love my garden so much”

Me: oh yes I’ve got that too

“Oh and years of belly dancing! I still have the beads and figure symbols.”

As she preforms a little sample dance.

Me: say what?! kickboxing is as close to dancing as I get.

BUT I think I found my new best friend.

.

This bundle of energy, literally hopped over to the credit card machine-

While telling me about being a secretary for a hitman.

-so many juice details there-

She also carries a pistol and can’t stand it when people steal flowers out of her yard.

-Oh but it gets better-

She whispered- “I am 100% sure men have bi-monthly mood swings.”

Adding in great detail what she does to deal with men.

-of which I will keep to myself-

Reading it in print might make you blush.

.

She doesn’t plan on going to a retirement home because the walls are gray-

But she absolutely loves people and her fireplace.

And invited me over for tea.

-BUT here is my FAVORITE PART-

“Oh but dear, some people are leery of little old me-

When I see someone gloomy at the grocery store-

I wheel my cart right up next to them-

Give them the sideways glance-

And say- want to race?!”

.

Today I met my soul sister

Standing at the register

At a farm store in the Midwest.