So as a cashier I get to meet a LOT of different people. I try not to categorize them, but when you perform over 300 transactions per shift, it gets kinda hard to avoid generalizing. So lately I've found myself categorizing people into one of two groups: "Aw, So Nice :)" and "Hmm, Okay Then..."
The "Aw, So Nice" kind of customers smile at you, respond to small chat, and are "present" (awake and responding appropriately to stimuli around them). The "Hmm, Okay Then" type of customers don't acknowledge that you are also a thinking human being, don't respond to "How are you"'s, and may even be a bit paranoid ("You're just trying to steal mah moneh!").
Now, I know how this may come across to many people, but I've been noticing a disconcerting trend of there being waaaaayyy more females in the "Nice" category, and more males in the "Okay Then" category. BUT, this makes it even nicer when I get a male customer who IS nice :) And I'm not saying it's super rare to get a nice guy customer, cuz out of 300+ transactions, I still get quite a few nice guys in the line. But ANYHOO...
Today, one man stood out in my memory as a surprisingly nice customer. It was a small thing that he did that stayed imprinted on my neural pathways: he shook my hand. This literally never happens (until now I guess). I was surprised by how complimented I was by this gesture. I was just getting him a dotcom order that he'd had shipped to the store, and after he filled out the paperwork and I told him he was good to go, he smiled, put his hand out, and said "Thank you." Luckily I'm used to shaking hands at church, so it didn't end up being awkward, but I realized in that moment what handshakes mean to me. They convey a certain comradery, a new level of appreciation and acceptance. I don't know. Physical touch is an awesome thing. A whole other level of communication. And I appreciated it :)
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