Saw a post about someone working in a small coffee shop and seeing daily expressions of love and community, and for a moment it made me feel wistful, like I was missing out on something because I work at a massive, impersonal petstore. But then I remembered the many customers who call me by my name (which disturbed me at first - anyone in big retail has had that shocking moment where the customer treats you like an actual person and it feels so jarring because you aren't used to it - but I grew to love it). I remember that there are customers who walk in, see me, and their face lights up. I remember the couple who stood close to each other at my register and he pressed a kiss to his partner's forehead while she paid. I remembered the kids who come up asking if I have stickers, and I get to pull out the sticker book I bought specifically for them, and I let them pick the sticker, ask where they want it, ask if I can put it on, and they bounce around with excitement and show off their stickers to their parent, who is smiling softly at me. I remember the older folks who see my pronoun sticker and get a bit gruff and distant, only to walk away smiling and thanking me, telling me to have a wonderful day. I remember the queer people who see my stickers and give me that knowing smile, that "I see you, and I know you see me." I think about the grown adults who get giddy and excited like a kid during the holidays while they tell me about their new puppy, or the cat they just adopted from our center, or the tarantula that they baby-talk to. And I remember that loving and kind connections happen everywhere, every day.
