Today, I ran out to a nearby grocery after realizing that I was out of celery--quelle horreur! Before leaving I donned my Dollar General Store Santa hat. It's a super cheap version of the classic red night cap with faux fur trim and bedazzled with gold glitter filigree snowflakes. The grocery in question is nearly walking distance from my home and as usual I was the only white person in the store. At one point I was spied by a little girl who exclaimed, "Santa!" I smiled, but her parents only glanced and then belined down the condiments aisle. No cross cultural endearing encounter this time! But there was a moment that really delighted and surprised me.
I've been shopping here for over two decades and being a bit of an odd man out, the employees pretty much recognize me. We often exchange superficial pleasantries. All the cashiers are black save the lone man and he's south central Asian (Indian or Pakistani, etc.) They are also ALL my age or older. Approaching the registers I noticed one of my favorite ladies was working. She's older than me. A wee sprite of a woman with a chirpy Creole caribbean accent and the disposition of a stern grandmother. She's efficient. In a cashier, that's endearing!
When my turn came she looked up at me for the first time and then burst into giggles! Not on my life did I expect this from her. After immediately looking down to stifle her laughter, she shot me another glance and lost it again. I, of course, said, "Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas." (I get this compulsion to poke the beast in moments like this from my father, who inherited it from his mother. My grandmother, Zola, would stop at nothing to push a good natured merry moment to its apex. I can remember her telling tales on herself that would end with her peeing her own britches from laughing so hard and laughing so hard in the telling that I wondered if I was about to be treated to an encore of the alleged finale! These are my people).
But I digress...
For the rest of our transaction we chatted pleasantly. She without making eye contact in an effort to keep her composure, and I, in hopes of lulling her into another glance!
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