The Kohl's Man

I do not know what it is, but nearly every single time I wander into our local Kohl's, I'm approached by the same male employee. He walks up to me as if I'm his long lost friend with the biggest smile on his face you've ever seen. I have no idea who this man is, other than a store employee, but he always acts as if he knows me all too well.

Just last night, the girls and I ran to Kohl's to check out their shoes. Abby was needing a pair of tennis shoes for PE and Brittany wanted (not needed ) some casual shoes to wear with jeans. We spent several minutes looking around and trying on shoes until they each decided on a pair. We were about to head over to the check-out counter when, out of nowhere, HE appeared.

All I remember seeing, initially, was his BIG smile. He got right in my face and said, "Hello, it's so good to see you, again!" I replied, politely, that it was nice seeing him, too, even though I was questioning why this was happening to me...again! He, then, asked me what I was doing. Well, my arms were loaded down with shoe boxes, so, let's see, I believe I was looking for shoes....HELLO!!!!!!

He asked me if I was going to use my Kohl's card and I told him, "No." He asked me why not and I told him because I didn't have one. He proceeded to slip his hand in his pocket, then his voice dropped to a whisper. He said, "I have a coupon here for you that's for family and friends." He explained how I wasn't supposed to use it until today, but that it would save me 15% on my purchase over the weekend.

Now, you must understand that every time I've encountered him, he's given me a coupon for friends and family...neither of which I am. I don't know, maybe he's just being overly friendly.

While all of this was going on, Brittany and Abby were standing off to the side and were giggling. They were trying so hard to make me laugh, but I held firm. After I took the coupon, the Kohl's man walked away and told me he'd see me, again. Oh, there's no doubt about that because he always pops up out of nowhere, it seems. It's the oddest thing.

Both of my girls say the whole situation is a little "creepy". At first, I admit, I agreed with them. However, I have to wonder what it is about today's society that makes us question random acts of kindness. I came across a quote from my "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" desk calendar. It reads, "If little acts of kindness make our own lives better and do some good for someone else, why in the world don't we do more of it?" Very good question, don't you agree?

So, I'll go ahead and talk with the Kohl's man whenever he says 'hello' and offers me a coupon for 15% off. I'll just smile, say "thank you", and try to remember that a little bit of kindness goes a long way.