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I took a "Mongoose" bicycle into Wal-Mart to get adjusted the other day.

While I was waiting in Customer Service, the greeter asked me if I knew where the mongoose was from.

I did not know.

She told me it was a cat-like carnivore from Asia.

She should know.

The greeter was 88 years old. Turns out she lived in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Her late husband was high up in the World Bank.

I mean high up.

As I stood there listening to this dignified lady's life story, I was incredulous. For the last 10 years she worked as a greeter because she loved people. As I continued to stand there listening to her, my face was towards the folks coming in the door.

I observed how she treated each person with dignity and respect and love.

You see, these were her regular customers.

Each of them said hello to her.

And each had a unique need.

Some of them needed to know how to take something back to get a refund. Others were employees coming to work. One black lady employee came in carrying a coke and complaining of feeling ill. The greeter called her "honey" and reminded her that she could get an electrolyte (like Gatorade?)to help her feel better. Other customers were reminded/admonished to bring in their receipt when they were returning a product.

The greeter told me that when she broke her hip and was out for several months, people lined up outside the store on the day she came back !!!

I know why. This dignified lady radiated love and care for folks.

As I stood by her on that sunny Seattle springtime Monday morning, I realized that I was experiencing one of those moments in life where I saw a unique perspective of goodness in people.

I wasn't the same for the rest of the day.

And still am not.