People Are Greater Than Plants
I had a long-time customer come in this week on that really rainy day. More than long-time, actually. He’s basically a Day One. From our Sherman days, over nine years ago. I remember clearly being enchanted with the way he treated his wife, from hand holding while they shopped together to carrying anything and everything she desired, handling the checkout procedure, to opening her car door for her. After a few of their visits, I mentioned to him that I really admired how in love they both still seem and what a gentleman he was to her. He looked at me and beamed, “She’s my bride!”
Over the years, and as they followed me to our current location, I’ve looked forward to seeing them every Spring. Same affection for each other year after year. Eventually her visits became more inconsistent and he explained she wasn’t feeling well, so he came alone to take flowers home to her. The day he brought his daughters to meet me and then told me he had lost the love of his life, we all cried together.
That was a few years ago but he still comes and sees me and buys his usual favorites. We always catch up chatting about dogs, and families, and of course, gardening. I’ve noticed his appearance changing over the last couple years, but other than that he is still the same sweet guy who reminds me how long he “would have” been married now - 68 years last Fall. When he came in the other day, we caught up on our Winters and his stories kept going….. and going…. aaaaaand going.
Luckily it was a quiet(ish) rainy afternoon so I could give him my undivided attention, even though I had been using the rare opportunity to catch up on some paperwork, make some calls, and get some new orders placed. (Full disclosure: I honestly don’t know how he could stand for so long as I was switching my weight from foot to foot and feeling like we should probably sit down!) I really did enjoy listening to all his life experiences (some I’ve heard before, many times) and all the places in the world he has lived. But I also couldn’t help but think of all the things I was right in the middle of doing and should probably get back to.
Maybe we’ve all been there - on that end of the conversation. I heard all he was saying but I also heard that he must feel so lonely and I may be the only person he talked to that day. Or week? And what if that’s me one day? What if I just want to chatter with someone. About whatever. For however long.
It was a very good, humbling, foot-switching lesson for me: People are greater than plants. Relationships beat record keeping. I’m really thankful for that rainy afternoon and my special friend coming by. It was just the reminder I needed that if not for the friendships, there would BE no business here.