Loving Invisible People

Adele works as a security guard at a development I've been frequenting as a vendor. She spends her days in a fancy guard shack (complete with A/C). She's the keeper of the gate, and she takes her job seriously. If you've got a commercial truck and would like to enter the development, Adele will stop you, instruct you where the commercial vehicles are to enter, and you can back it up, Bub. And if you have no business going in there, or the homeowner hasn't notified her of your intentions, you're not going in, no sir. The residents, around eighty families, all treat Adele differently, from polite to treat her like a peasant to ignore. Some consider her the enemy. I first met Adele nine years ago, as she informed me that my truck drivers could not use the main entrance, but would have to back their trucks up and get themselves to the commercial entrance. I admit, I perceived her as my nemesis. Whether she's softened over the years or I have, I'm not sure. But now I try to make her day a bit brighter. Plenty of other people probably make it darker. I've noticed that if I treat her nicely, she reciprocates. Maybe it's both of us, but I don't perceive her as the enemy anymore and respect her passion for her job. What about you? What invisible people come and go in your life? Do you notice them, ignore them, or treat them like slaves? Tomorrow I'll see Adele again. I think I'll tell her how I respect her and appreciate her good service.

6 comments:

RobVG said...

The last few years I've learned to smile. I meet new people all the time in an industry that can be impersonal and just isn't that friendly sometimes.

I need help from these people for parts and services and If I hit them right off with a smile and genuine interest in how their day is going, they make sure I get the help I need and more.

It's amazing how in the everyday world a smile can visibly melt facades people use for protection. Even your own.

Unknown said...

Isn't that true? I once got a free first class upgrade on a flight because the flight was badly delayed and I treated the gate people with respect. They didn't cause the delay, but appreciated someone being nice to them.
KP

Mel said...

First class upgrade just for treating someone(s) with respect? I'm gonna have to try that sometime. If KP can do it, even I can probably do it!
R-E-S-P-E-C-T? Someone should write a song about that sometime!

Unknown said...

You can't write a song about it. What rhymes with respect?

Mel said...

You have a point, there. And no, I'm not talking about the one on your head!

Unknown said...

Just rude, I tell ya. No respect.
KP