Some shoutouts and some shout-abouts
- col-lee-elliot-aging-graciously
- June 6, 2024
- 484
This and that — some shoutouts and some shout-abouts. I particularly want to give a positive shoutout to whomever picks up trash in Dover. This seems such a thankless job, collecting other people’s cast-offs and finding a place for them.
The person who collects my trash is a small woman who frequently has to leave the truck and pick up something heavier than I can lift. She seems patient. When I first moved here, the gathering trucks had two or three men on them. Now just one woman seems to do the work.
As I am in the process of culling the house, garage and barn, I have exceptionally large amounts of trash to dispose of. I find it embarrassing I can pile parts of my life I no longer need on the curb to be struggled into a huge truck by a small woman. I have recently seen what appeared to be the entire contents of a house, including heavy furniture, on the curb. The next day it was all gone. Thank you, Ms. Collector. In my eyes you are a hero — oops, heroine.
Likewise, a cheerful and polite doctor’s receptionist. In the past all receptionists seemed to be friendly, courteous and respectful. They recognized people they saw frequently and spoke warmly to them.
Not too long ago, I stepped up to register for an appointment. The receptionist, who was on the phone part of the time and was talking to the worker next to her the rest, never acknowledged the fact I was standing there, and when she did, she asked, “What did you want?” I had to interrupt her and tell her I had ice cream in the car to get her attention.
The other day I sat in a doctor’s office and watched as the receptionist welcomed patients, listened to their stories, responded politely and never complained to her fellow workers when she could have. I am most appreciative for that kind of behavior. I’ll bet her tongue is often raw from being bitten to hold back an appropriate comment, or else she is just plain a truly nice person. Nice is so nice.
On the shout-about side of the coin, I am so tired of people trying to scam me. Every day I have to waste my time removing a hundred emails that have no relevance to my life. They promise me or threaten me and give me no way to get rid of them permanently. Many are duplicated at least 10 times in the same day. I know they get my address if I open something that looks interesting, like “three fruits that are killing you.” I no longer open anything like that. I also have been charged for subscriptions I never signed for. You have to really be on your toes.
And finally, a shout-about for social media and people who use it to surreptitiously hurt others. Don’t. Many believe in karma. It is easy to see how young children are led astray by mean statements. Elders also may be. Once again, nice is so nice.