The Transporter Couch

On Friday and Saturday nights I work in a liquor store. Please see below a note I wrote to my employers.

Food for Thought

Hi Judy & Peter,

Recently I offered, at my discretion and without authority and frankly without any concern, a discount to some customers on military leave. It happened in a spark, a moment. Afterwards, Nari asked if that’s a policy and I assured her it isn’t a policy. But I further assured her that there are moments when you supply discounts. You have to pick and choose and be careful, and there are rules of course about extending discounts to family and friends (that’s off limits and well it should be). But it gave me pause for thought.

I am so disgusted with this war (that they say is over), the trouble it causes in our lives, and I’m not going to place blame or discuss politics but I assure you I’m disgusted. So, when someone comes in and buys something and the conversation reveals that she or he has spent 18 months (or more or less) in a place fraught with fright, death and hell, all in the service of the country, regardless of the things I think of the war or its leaders, my heart opens. One reason for that is that I’ve never been summoned to that cause. I don’t feel shame or guilt for never being in the military, and I don’t speak the following sentiments out of shame or guilt. And though I’ve never experienced it first hand I know still that it’s fright, death and hell, and people who do it deserve my respect and admiration. Derision might ensue but first and foremost, respect and admiration.

So, my heart thus opened, it’s my tendency to give. I’ve had every advantage in life and it’s my responsibility and duty to give back, whenever and however. And I do my best to be honest, kind, decent, generous and gentle. This doesn’t afford me license to give away your store, but I would like to know that I have the authority to apply a discount (say 10%) when I am moved to do so by an encounter with someone recently returned from the war. It’s easy enough to put a yellow sticker on your car but the true heart is in the moment when you actually say thank you. And, I don’t just say “thank you” with your profit, I always say it in words and with a handshake, as you’ve perhaps observed.

The fear here, of course, is that “momentary compassion” could overextend itself and be or become self-serving. So let’s not label it thus. I suppose ultimately that I’m just asking for the authority to give a discount at my own discretion. I’m not asking for a company policy, I’m just asking for …. a favor I guess, that my discretion be relied upon.

What do you think?

Brian