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(Thread)
I’m a paramedic in #yyc.
I rely heavily on caffeine.
We all have our vices.
Tonight I stopped in to pick up some caffeine at a convenience store. At the till, there were two cashiers, and there’s a guy with his kid at one.
/1
(Thread)
I’m a paramedic in #yyc.
I rely heavily on caffeine.
We all have our vices.
Tonight I stopped in to pick up some caffeine at a convenience store. At the till, there were two cashiers, and there’s a guy with his kid at one.
/1
They’re both wearing masks.
The kid has a super cute tie dye job. He’s maybe 3. Dads probably in his 40’s.
The kid & I make eye contact. He’s got that cautious approach small kids do when they see someone like me in uniform.
I smile & wave.
/2
The kid has a super cute tie dye job. He’s maybe 3. Dads probably in his 40’s.
The kid & I make eye contact. He’s got that cautious approach small kids do when they see someone like me in uniform.
I smile & wave.
/2
I worry he can’t see the smile under my mask, so I try and exaggerate with my eyes a bit.
Seems to work. He smiles back and waves too.
The cashier calls me up, I move forward and hand over my over caffeinated beverages.
/3
Seems to work. He smiles back and waves too.
The cashier calls me up, I move forward and hand over my over caffeinated beverages.
/3
She asks if I have the rewards card.
I have it on my phone, so I pull out my phone, open the app and scan it.
She asks how I want to pay.
I say “tap” because we live in the future and my watch does that.
/4
I have it on my phone, so I pull out my phone, open the app and scan it.
She asks how I want to pay.
I say “tap” because we live in the future and my watch does that.
/4
I reach down to put my phone on my belt and I look down while I’m doing it.
I get my phone in it’s holder thinger, and as I look up, I notice that the dad beside me is moving fast. He’s a blur.
/5
I get my phone in it’s holder thinger, and as I look up, I notice that the dad beside me is moving fast. He’s a blur.
/5
Before I can really even process what’s happened, he slaps his debit card on my machine.
“I’ve got these man” he says.
I’m honestly a little stunned.
Sometimes I have people offer to pay for a coffee or something. I always say “No thank you”. It just feels weird to me.
/6
“I’ve got these man” he says.
I’m honestly a little stunned.
Sometimes I have people offer to pay for a coffee or something. I always say “No thank you”. It just feels weird to me.
/6
But he didn’t give me any time.
He just moved.
I stammer out a “Thank you”. I try to tell him that it’s super unnecessary.
He just smiles and says, “My wife is an ER nurse and you are all working so hard these days. We appreciate you guys”.
/7
He just moved.
I stammer out a “Thank you”. I try to tell him that it’s super unnecessary.
He just smiles and says, “My wife is an ER nurse and you are all working so hard these days. We appreciate you guys”.
/7
Now I have the feelings at work, which I typically try & avoid. I say another quiet “Well, thank you”.
He smiles, looks at the kid and says, “No thank you”.
The feelings are getting bigger.
I walk back out to my truck, sit down & hope I don’t get a call so I can compose
/8
He smiles, looks at the kid and says, “No thank you”.
The feelings are getting bigger.
I walk back out to my truck, sit down & hope I don’t get a call so I can compose
/8
Moral of the story?
Things are bad right now. People are scared, and it seems like there’s a lot of people being unnecessarily shortsighted, selfish and cruel.
But damn if there aren’t still a lot of wonderful people who make this province a beautiful place.
/fin
Things are bad right now. People are scared, and it seems like there’s a lot of people being unnecessarily shortsighted, selfish and cruel.
But damn if there aren’t still a lot of wonderful people who make this province a beautiful place.
/fin
