Just so stinkin' nice!

Boise Botanical Gardens - October 2008

I love nice people.

I've always wondered why some people choose to be so grumpy. I know that we all have bad days now and then, but it seems like there are those people that simply cannot let themselves smile. I've noticed something here that is so different from Portland. Strangers are so nice! Yes, we did run into nice people in Portland who smiled and said hello. However, it seemed like those that you interacted with at the grocery store, the coffee shop, on the streets were just trying to get through their day. Oh, but here, people smile at you. They ask you how your day is going and actually care to hear the answer. They smile as they pass by you. They hold the door and wave you through in traffic. We've been here two months, and I have yet to see an instance of road rage. Just this past week, while at Wal-Mart paying for my groceries, I joined a conversation with the checker and the lady in front of me. We chatted as she finished her order and then while mine was being rang up. It was so pleasant as we talked about getting older and forgetting things like words and what we were going upstairs for. It was even nicer when the checker said that I couldn't be more than 26 years old! :) My next stop was Starbucks. In Portland, the people that worked at Starbucks would ask for your order, take your money and move on to the next customer...all without a "How are you?" or a smile. Here, they ask how your day is going, actually wait for the answer, take your order, remember your name from last time, and chat at you while you wait for your tall non-fat no-whip two-pump mocha! Now that's friendly!

I love nice people!