Sunday, January 20, 2008

Take Greeter Off Her List of Career Choices

Many older people decide that after they retire, they need something to do to keep busy. A few of the "big box stores" hire retirees who are supposed to be extra friendly and helpful to greet you at the door with a big smile. Great idea (in theory).

My local Walmart has a great greeter. He's friendly. He's always smiling. He'll get your buggy (shopping cart, carriage, whatever you call it based on the part of the country/world you're in) for you when you walk in the door. He asks you how your day is. And he doesn't frisk you if you walk out of the store with a giant package of toilet paper on the bottom of your buggy, demanding to know if you've paid for it. I guess he realizes that if you're going to go to the trouble of stealing something that A: you wouldn't take something so big that it would require you to put it in plain view for all the world to see as you take it out of the store and B: it wouldn't be toilet paper. But I guess as a Walmart Greeter, you see lots of weird things. I wonder if there's an online group especially for Walmart Greeters to share their stories?

I think the GBD can take greeter off the short list of post-retirement employment opportunities after her performance at Saturday's Meet-n-Greet. Seka, in full princess mode, chose to lay on a bed provided by another greyhound who was up and doing his job. It wouldn't have been all that bad if she bothered to get up when people wanted to pet her, but no. She required all potential adopters and inquiring minds to approach her and bend down to pet Her Majesty. How embarrassing. I tried to cover it up by giving some spill about how they are laid back, easy going dogs - literally pointing to her lounge-like behavior as an example. I don't know if it worked.

Now, the GBD is normally pretty reserved. She's not an in-your-face kind of dog - ever. And she usually looks to me before allowing a stranger to pet her, something that I prefer since I know not everyone loves wet kisses. But, for the love of biscuits! Get up and act like you like people. We're at a Meet-n-Greet for goodness sake. Binder, however, did a great Gerbal TV.JPGjob showing what lovers big boys can be. And he did introduce Seka to gerbil television. I think they stood in front of those cages and watched the rodents for 15 minutes straight. But I think there's a good chance that we may not be invited back to participate after Saturday's lack of interaction.

So I think that I can let my Walmart Greeter know that his job is safe. There is no way ol' Wally World will be hiring the GBD any time soon. She might have a hard time without opposable thumbs anyway.

3 comments:

Maria Peters said...

Heather,

Just caught up with your blog. You are an amazing writer with great wit. I really enjoyed.

Anonymous said...

the look she is giving you...ooooh, girly you're in trouble.

f.y.i., in these here parts, they're trollies.

pattysea said...

Did it ever occur to you that Seka is just not a Walmart kinda gal???
I picture her as a greeter at
Bloomingdales. Until you can pull that off, she will just pout!!!