Wait a second. Grocery shopping isn’t supposed to be uplifting, is it?
Isn’t it a just a matter of putting things in your cart, and then cursing when you get home — because you forgot the one thing you really went after?
Not if you’re lucky enough to go through Lana Twigg’s checkout lane at the Patteson Drive Kroger.
She’ll know you, if your purchases have passed her way, prior.
She’ll remember what you idly chatted about last time.
She’ll remember to ask about your mom and will probably even ask to see pictures of the new puppy or grand-baby, so be sure to have your phone at the ready.
As she says, a smile and a hello will get you places.
“You’re making a connection,” she said.
An ongoing one between you and a person who used to be a stranger.
Heck, she said: You might even actually still be smiling while you’re putting your items in your car. (Twigg already told you to be mindful of the bag with the eggs).
Twigg’s personality is why Mon County Compassion at Work was formed earlier this fall.
The idea, its founders said, was to simply notice the people like her and others who go out of their way to simply be nice to the people they encounter in the course of their workday.
“Every day, we see people like Lana who bring that compassion to their work,” said Penny Dacks, who is a charter member of the organization.
“What they do is extra-special,” she said. “They show they care, and they make Morgantown and Monongalia County a great place to live.”
Over the past weeks, the organization has nominated 10 people for its inaugural Compassion at Work award.
Ceremonies will be 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Arts Mon, 201 High St.
The nominees take in all walks, including those who literally walk for a living, such as Officer Steve Bennett, who walks a downtown beat for Morgantown Police.
Bennett, his nominators said, is known for treating everyone he encounters downtown with equal respect — be they a bank president or member of the homeless community.
Another nominee, Caitlin Sussman, is a licensed social worker with Milan Puskar Health Right who does outreach in Morgantown daily, whether by helping people in rehab or leading needle-cleanup details in the city.
There are teachers who make a special call home for a student who is struggling.
And bus drivers who edge the vehicle down the road to simply make sure a passenger disembarking is safe.
Visit Mon County Compassion at Work on Facebook to find out more about the organization.
Why Wednesday for the award ceremony? It’s the week before Thanksgiving, organizers said — a chance to count one’s blessings early.
