Home Is Where The Heart Is

I usually do all of my shopping on Fridays. It IS payday, after all. So, true to fashion, yesterday, Little Britches and I hit the stores. He really hates to shop, but he is such a trooper about it. Anyway - while I was at the grocery store having my order rung up - the lady behind me was loading her items on the conveyor. The cashier noticed that the woman behind her only had 2 or 3 things in hand. She was almost finished with me so, she asked the customer behind me if she minded if she rang up the woman behind her with only a couple of items while she finished loading her things on to the conveyor. Are you following - or have a totally confused you? I'm going to finish my story either way. :0)

When asked if it was OK to ring up the other lady first, the woman behind me said, "NO! (sarcastically). Of course she can go first!" Kind of like, "Du-uh! Who would be so rude to not let her go first."

So, we all had a chuckle and the cashier said, "Can you imagine if people actually said no to requests like that? I'd like to be there to see their face."

To which, the woman with only a few items replied, "It can happen. I just moved here from Maryland and it happened there all the time."

Then I asked her, "Do you find people are friendlier in Indiana?"

"Oh, yeah."

By then I had my stuff ready to go and said the customary, "Y'all have a good day!", and I left the store.

I thought it was an interesting conversation about the nature of the people in this great state. There are always stinkers everywhere. There are also nice people everywhere. But, generally speaking, people in Indiana are warm, helpful, kind, courteous and just plain ol' pleasant. It almost reminds me of living in an old movie - in a time that has slipped on by for much of the country. A time when people were grounded with character, integrity, morals and a good work ethic. Maybe it's because there is so much farming that goes on here, keeping people connected to the earth or some yada, yada like that. I don't really know what it is. I just know I love it!

I remember when we first moved back here from spending 9 years in Florida. We were amazed at how friendly people were. All those years in the Sunshine State had wiped it from our memories. Even the cashier at the drive-through at McDonald's was chipper. In FL, it could be a completely frustrating experience to just try to get some fast food - because 9 times out of 10, the person taking our order was too lazy or put out with working to even enunciate when they spoke to us. We were never sure if they got our order right or not. (Usually, not.) Then you had to deal with the deep sighs and eye rolling. That's always a pleasant experience. Not! Coming home to Indiana was like a breath of fresh air after being trapped in a sewer. No offense, if you live in Florida. Maybe the whole state isn't that way. Or, maybe you just don't know anything different. :0) Or maybe you're one of those eye rolling, deep sighing, non-enunciating cashiers. Oh, dear! I hope not. Or maybe you like it when people are rude to you. Whatever...different strokes for different folks, I guess! It just wasn't my cup of tea. Anyway...

I said all that to say this: If home is where your heart is, then my heart is right here in the heartland. This is a great place to live. But, I'd still take the mountains, too! :0)