Bonds with Service workers

Our neighborhood underwent a major gas line replacement last year. Every yard was dug up, and when the work was finished, a few plops of sod were slapped down with a trail of straw scattered about. Our turn rolled around right smack in the hottest part of summer. I really felt for those hard working construction guys, digging and moving dirt, burying the pipes, etc.. When they were done, I asked if they would like something to drink- One husky guy said, " We'll take a beer if you've got one." I said, "Well, I've got water today, sorry." He replied, "Water will be just fine, Ma'am." So decided to give them a real treat, and I poured them each a tall glass of my favorite fizzy water' Quibell. They accepted the drinks and were very gracious. Here were 5 burly workers, some no doubt had been former world class weight lifters, now wearing reflective vests and orange hard hats. They looked like a pack of big teddy bears sitting on my front yard. As I approached the house, one of them stopped and said, "Excuse me, Ma'am, Is this Quibell? " It was like stepping into the grey poupon commercials. This led to discussions of fizzy water- To hear these huskies discussing something as tame as carbonated water just makes me chuckle. It created a bond, and before they left, they rang the doorbell and gave me specific instructions of how to get my gas turned back on the quickest. They told me who to call and what, exactly what to say. Looking out for me, those big hearts. Thanks Quibel

I must have something going with the gas company, because on another occasion, the gas man came by to turn on one of the upstairs apartment's gas. I chatted with him, we talked sports, kids, girls, we clicked just like the electronic ignition on the gas stove. I brought him some lettuce from the garden, and he said, "You're not serious? From your own garden? In the city? " He asked to have a tour. Then he proceeded to tell me how much he missed New York and the apple trees there. I ended up sending him home with fresh butter crunch and romaine knowing he had connected more than the gas that day. The jogging of his fond memories turned his serious nature slightly pleasant.

Then ther's Sears and Bruce. He came to repair my 10 year old dryer. He completely dismantled the thing, Found the part he thought was broken, and replaced it. The dryer still didn't work. During the afternoon that it took to do all that taking apart and putting together, we talked about gardens, kids, and hurricanes. He seemed to relax as he worked, Finally, he said, okay, here it is. I've put $250 dollars into this dryer and it's still not working. I can get the only other part lef t, but then you're looking at another $25 plus another trip out. What do you want to do? Isaid, and quite frankly, too. Bruce, Why would I want to spend $300 on a 10 year old dryer, when a new one is about that price? He just shook his head, " I know what you mean, but I really don't want to have to take that whole dryer apart just to get off the new part I put on that doesn't fix it anyway, so I'll just leave it and I'll give you a coupon for $25 off a new dryer. " Iwalked him out to the car, ran out to the garden and plucked him two fresh tomatoes for luck, and sent him home. It was a pleasant afternoon in the long run. It restored my faith in the "Murky" repair man syndrome. We treated each other fairly and met a new person in the end.