Ode to Lilly

I remember in the olden days, our local supermarket was called 'Toms'. This was before I was even at school. Funnily enough I found Toms-labelled food in my Mothers pantry when I was home. Let's just say it went straight in the bin. From Toms it became United, and then gradually became a part of South-Australian chain 'Foodland'.

I'm getting side tracked.

Back in the days of Toms, I remember if you bought heaps of shopping, there were actually people who would help it be carried to your car. This was particularly good for the elderly. I don't see this happen anymore (although at Toms, I mean Foodland, it may still happen. Small town.)

It's 2011. I live in the big smoke. I never see anyone at my local Coles help anyone out. This may be because what I've known has been a small town thing, or gradually something that can't happen due to OHS. Nobody helps put your groceries in your car any more. It's every man for himself.

I go to our Coles nearly every day. I find something in our house that needs to be bought. Really, it's just an excuse to get out of the house and go somewhere.

Lilly is a lovely middle aged lady who would be older than my Mum. She calls people 'love' and 'darl'. She works at my local Coles. She is often found on the self serve kiosks. Today I had a lot of shopping and she was on a regular check out.

Lilly and I don't talk a lot, but she seems to know who I am. She has probably been watching my growing bump and wondering when I will pop. When she saw me she surely thought, "hasn't she had that baby yet?"

Lilly gave me heaps of plastic bags and I'm not sure why. She seemed to put only two items in each bag. She must know I might have a need for them soon.

I had started putting the shopping in the trolley when she had finished scanning all of my items and I needed to pay. I began scrounging through my purse for my credit card, all the while doing this, Lilly left the register and... put the rest of the shopping in my trolley for me!

At the end of the transaction she smiled sweetly and told me to "have a lovely day, love!"

I put my own groceries in my car. But the fact that someone went that extra mile for a heavily pregnant lady touched me.

We need more Lilly's in customer service. We need more Lilly's in the world.

I was so chuffed, I left the dollar in my shopping trolley. Bum.