It’s been over six weeks since I quit working as a cashier at Sprouts Farmers Market. I had some amazing experiences with seeing humanity at its best while I worked there. I shared two other stories in my previous posts and this is the third and final blog on my short but fantastic time working at Sprouts.

I was getting much better and faster at my job as a cashier. It was getting easier to converse with the customers and scan their items quickly. On this particular day, my supervisor asked all of us cashiers to card every single patron who purchased alcohol that day. We were told it did not matter if they looked 50, we still had to card them. I enjoy carding people. The fun part of asking, “May I see your ID?” is they tend to be flattered that there is a question they may be 21. I had one gentleman who was celebrating his 60^th birthday that day and I was able to enthusiastically wish him a happy birthday. He loved it. Another patron was a lady who seemed to have spent a lot of money looking younger than she was but was quite annoyed that she had to get her ID out. It was quite funny and I thought a bit ironic.

The night was beginning to wind down and a young man came through my line who was clearly less than 25 purchasing a six pack of beer. I asked for his ID and upon seeing it noticed I it was not a California ID. He began to explain to me that he was a military brat from Michigan but here in San Diego on duty in the Navy.  The military was something he had known his entire life. He had recently come back from a ship deployment in Japan. He was so full of energy, excitement and pride for his job. There was an older gentleman in line behind him listening to our conversation as we talked. This man tapped the young guy on his shoulder and said, “Son, if you’re in the military there is someone here you’ve got to meet!” By this time I was done ringing up the young private’s groceries. Everyone in line seemed intrigued as to who this young man should meet. The older gentleman called out to an athletic looking man in his mid-fifties. He said, “Son, this is Michael, an officer in the Navy.” The officer smiled and reached across his friend to the young man. Their hands clasped right in front of me and I felt the energy between them. The officer leaned in and said with great intensity and reverence I did not expect, “Son, thank you for your service. What you do is hard and not many know what we go through. I know and I thank you.” The young man from Michigan kept eye contact the entire time with his superior and took the compliment graciously. He responded with, “Thank you sir. I appreciate that immensely.” As they shook hands one more time I realized I had tears in my eyes. The young man gathered his belongings, paused to smile at me and then thanked the two men he had just met for the introduction. Everyone in my line seemed to feel the incredible respect and magnitude of the moment. The line began to go back to the usual chatter as I rang up the remaining customers. I hoped everyone felt the same as me, that we had just been given a small gift.

I write this today, on Veterans Day. My Grandpa, whom we affectionately called “Pa” was part of the last horse infantry in World War II. My father-in-law served the Navy for 25 years and retired as a Petty Chief Officer and my own father was in the Air Force at the end of Vietnam. I have always been grateful for our men and women in service, but to see such an exchange of respect and gratitude was an incredible reminder of the sacrifice they endure. I may never truly get it, but I am thankful for these men and women and all they do for the American people. Happy Veterans Day to those serving and thank you for the sacrifice of those who served before them.