What about Bob?

March 2020---In keeping with the social distancing policies in place, I have stayed put. It’s been nearly two weeks. Ok, I lied. I did take a walk one evening and I did drive my car around the block the other day just so I could make sure it still runs. But other than that, I’ve been home and no personal contact with anyone except my neighbor and her adorable children while walking, Tom the garage door fix-it man and Bob. Kept the proper distance with them all.

I placed several orders with a local grocery store to deliver what I believe to be essential items. At the top of the list were hot chocolate mix, marshmallows, cilantro and hair color. Obviously the grocer didn’t think my items were important enough or maybe they didn’t have enough delivery people or just maybe there was a huge run on cilantro and they were out, but both times my order was canceled. I mean it’s not like I was ordering toilet paper, Lysol and wine.

While engaged in some small talk before the start of a staff meeting via Zoom, I mentioned this to the others. Immediately there were offers to go get groceries for me. I thanked them for their kind offers, but said I’d try again. My director then forwarded me a link to an app that does home deliveries. I had heard of this, but wasn’t fully aware of just what it was. During my lunch break, I installed the app and once I opened it, there was a $10 off coupon. (Thank you, Clare!) Well, now I had no choice, right? I had to use it to order some groceries.

I went page by page to find what I needed. Of course I started with the hot chocolate mix, the marshmallows, cilantro and something to cover up the roots on what’s left of my hair. Completed my order and was delighted to find out shortly after that Fred was starting to shop for my order. A few minutes later, I was notified Bob was doing the shopping for my order. I started wondering why Fred wasn’t continuing. Was it close to the end of his shift? Was it something I said—err, ordered?

It wasn’t long when I received another notification that my order was on its way. I truly was impressed. My local grocery store couldn’t deliver for four days—and then couldn’t deliver at all. But here was this service…and Bob….and they were ready to deliver in less than two hours. I was thrilled.

So, Bob shows up and rings the bell. He’s got this huge, friendly smile on his face and offers to bring my groceries inside for me. I politely tell him no thanks, he can just leave them on the porch. I must have really looked old and feeble for him to even suggest that and risk breaking the six-foot-distance policy.

As Bob is setting down the bags, again all smiles, he says to me that he had to make a few substitutions. My heart starts racing—am I never going to get my cilantro?? He tells me he substituted the jar of dehydrated marshmallows (yes, sometimes I throw those in my hot chocolate) with a bag of the multi-colored marshmallows because he thought they were pretty. I chuckle and say that’s ok. It’s really not something I would have purchased unless I wanted them for my cereal but I suppose they’ll melt just fine in the steaming coco. The second item was the root cover up. He says the color I selected was out of stock so he picked out something he thought looked nice. Something he thought looked nice??? I smiled and said thank you and he was on his way.

I start unloading the bags. I guess I could save the pastel mini-marshmallows for my grandkids. Or, I could just put on my big girl pants and plop some into my next cup of hot chocolate and be done with it. It really wasn’t a big deal. It was a nice gesture on his part to bring me pretty pastels, right?

As for the hair color product—now I’m in my kitchen laughing out loud all by myself—because I’m only with my dog and he’s not going to get the humor—picturing this fairly young man standing in the women’s hair color aisle trying to pick out a color.

I’m even picturing him talking to himself. “Hmmm…how bout this one? Nah, it’s too light. Or, what about this one? No. Way too dark. I don’t like it. Oh wait…here’s one I like.”

It made me laugh for several hours as I thought about it. So, the bottom line is even though these are two products I wouldn’t have selected myself, this service did a fabulous job and delivered so quickly from the very store that canceled my orders, and everything else was just perfect. I’ll order from them again.

And what about Bob? He was great. The joy of his visit lasted for hours. I hope I get him again for my next delivery.

One day at a time…..