Who Changed?

Do I look like a rocker chick?  That would be a change for me.  I'm actually a huge Fanilow.

Last evening, I experienced another transformation, but the question remains, who changed?

I get my gas at one of two gas stations.  The one that I patronize about 90% of the time has excellent customer service and it doesn't matter what time of day I go or what day.  They always have superior customer service.  By superior customer service, I mean that they smile at me and thank me for coming in.  The bar is not incredibly high.

The other one I only patronize when I am really desperate for gas and don't want to chance it to go to the other station.  I have never had good customer service.  In fact, I have had horrible customer service.  Don't get me started on the many "car wash" incidents.  But, basically, it has all been one attendant.  She and I just seem to clash.  Two times, I was so upset that I called her manager.  Of course, I presented my feedback as "coaching opportunities" but I was pretty hysterical so who knows how that was received.  All I know is that it didn't seem to improve customer service.

Until last night.  I pulled to the pump and looked in the window. It was her.  I prepared for the worst.  I started pumping my gas.  She came out to have a cigarette.  Then, she yelled at me.  Here it comes.  She yelled at me that she caught me yawning and some sort of comment that I must have had a long day.  I smiled.  Next thing you know, we were yelling at each other, but only because we were 30 feet apart.  We were having a conversation.  Someone came to buy ice and she left her smoke going and came back out.  By that time, I was finished pumping my gas and joined her.  She was going to butt out her cigarette and I told her to finish.  I wasn't in a hurry and she likely deserved a break.  Now, we talked using our inside voices.  Not only were we talking, we were smiling, and chuckling.  It was a good conversation.  She finished her cigarette and we went in to complete this transaction and continued to chat.  When I was done paying for my gas, she handed me the receipt and said, "have a great night, sweetie."

A positive experience.  Why was this positive after so many negative experiences?  We had history, after all.  The question remains, who changed?

Also, I am starting to think of other people who I have similar negative history with.  It is possible that these relationships can change as well?

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