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A country store feel...

Cliff Note: I need to get another post up before the comment section on the previous post destroys my nice guy image. I figure there's a Big Possibility that could happen.

Yesterday I spent part of the day driving my father in law to Lutheran Hospital to get his artificial hip checked out, as he has to do this once a year to keep his workers comp case open. He was almost killed in an industrial accident 16 years ago. Everything went smoothly and the doctor told him his hip was still very solid. After driving him back to his house and eating supper with them, I was on my way home.

In between their house in Medina and mine in Rittman, there is a small store called the River Styx Market. I will go in there every once in awhile for a soft drink and a newspaper. If I have Kathy along, sometimes we will go in for an ice cream cone. I stopped there for a Diet Coke(note to Johanna: They didn't have Coke Zero in the size I wanted.) and a copy of Farm and Dairy, a newspaper. When I got to the counter, I was asked how I was doing and I replied "Outstanding, but improving." One of the people working there then told me how they were discussing how grumpy so many customers were, but every time I come in, I'm always upbeat. I replied with my usual "Have a great day, and thank you for working at River Styx Market." That got the usual chuckle and appreciation I usually get when I end a transaction that way.

I'm glad that the Walmarts of the world haven't put small stores like this out of business. I think we need the personal attention we get from the small stores when we just need a few small items. I could probably get the items anywhere, but the service they provide isn't provided on any computerized program.

Comments

Mike Golch said…
I have stopped in that store a couple of times when on a whim,Celestine and I would go for a drive and where ever my nose pointed we went that way.
Anonymous said…
If you were such a nice guy you would not take pot shots at radio hosts and Wal mart all the time
burpsmom said…
To the person who said my husband is not a very nice person, you have no idea what you are talking about. Not another person in the world would put up with half of what he has. And by the way he is entitled to his opinion as much as you are. and if you had any nerve you would have left you name. This is Kathy saying I love you Cliff.
Cliff said…
You know, the last thing you want to do is p*** off my wife.
Tim Lones said…
Cliff..
Kathy was nice enough to friend me on Facebook recently and I got to chat with her a bit..She is a real sweet person..I know you realize how lucky you are to have her on your side..I dont understand where this person is coming from..Most of the shots you take at Wal-Mart, etc..Are in FUN..The dude needs to get a life..And have the stones to not be anonymous..Take care Cliff.

Tim
Emma said…
Mr. Anonymous,
I just typed something then realized that instead of wishing ill, I need to follow the many examples we have and wish you well.

So, may you find the joys in life. May you find the wisdom in the stories of winnie the pooh. And may you grow to always look for good in people.

" From the state of the Uncarved Block comes the ability to enjoy the simple and the quiet, the natural and the plain. Along with that comes the ability to do things spontaneously and have them work, odd as that may appear to others at times. As Piglet put it in Winnie-the-Pooh, "Pooh hasn't much Brain, but he never comes to any harm. He does silly things and they turn out right."

Page 21 Tao of Pooh

Cliff's daughter Em
Michelle said…
I seem to remember a "nice guy" who went bonkers and threw the money lenders and merchants out of his Father's house...

;-)

Being nice doesn't mean you're not allowed to speak out against things that are wrong.
Michelle said…
I forgot... the best part of having someone say you're "not nice" is having all those who love you and really know you dash in to speak up.

And it always feels good when your spouse wants to rip the heads off your enemies (even if you never let them!). LOL I have one of those spouses too. They are AWESOME. :-D
J. Moses said…
Cliff, I would have disabled anon comments LONG ago, if I didn't have certain media types reading the media blog. Shoot, as it is, if there's an anon commenter leaving crap on the media blog, I can reject the comment without a second thought. Not saying you HAVE to enable moderation - but this way, the anon comments are only seen by you, and you can reject/delete them at your leisure. Or just leave them sit and never publish them, if you like.
Cliff said…
Jeremy, I don't disable them because there are people who don't have an account that are friends of mine.

Comments like those made telling me I'm not a nice are annoying at the very most and in almost four years of blogging I can probably count on the fingers of one hand how many I've deleted and most of those have been my own.

But having said that, I really do appreciate all the comments supporting me.
Syd said…
I am glad too. Small stores have so much local color. There is a tiny grocery down the road that looks like it is from the 1950's. And really it is. I love the place.

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