Letting Go Of Sadness, Grief Created Positive Side Effect
After checking out my merchandise at Costco recently, I was sent to the customer service desk where they had taken my card, explaining that since Price joined with Costco, there had been some duplication of customer membership numbers. Slowly, the duplicates were being changed. This was the day my number “came up.”
That did it! The thought of a permanent photo on my membership card seemed overwhelming. You see, I just completed a six-month course of chemotherapy for breast cancer and although I’m not bald, I have lost most of my hair. I hadn’t realized this would be such a big issue with me, but I got that old lump in my throat and my eyes welled with tears. I had stayed emotionally “up” to go through chemotherapy, but suddenly the pent-up emotions were about to let loose. And let loose they did. In front of God and everybody at Costco! I briefly explained the reasons for my feelings and said, “I can’t talk about this now.”
I then proceeded (without my card) to the food area. I had my back to as many people as possible, trying to keep from crying, when the service representative came over to me with my pictureless card. She told me I could come back for a picture whenever I was ready. She said she understood my feelings as someone close to her had been through chemotherapy for leukemia.
I spent the entire afternoon in tears. I just couldn’t seem to stop the flow. But the next morning, I fixed my “eaglet hair” and went in for the dreaded picture. It’s pretty awful, but I can go back anytime for a retake. The story doesn’t end there. The store’s regional marketing manager, Jane Oesterle, called me from her Seattle office to apologize. She was very supportive and understanding and expressed her hopes for my full recovery. Then, Cindy Rice, the marketing manager of the North Division Price-Costco, called me and said they had a gift for me.
When people are going through traumatic times, they often get teary in public places. You never know what unrelated event or incident will get you in touch with grief over your loss, whether that loss is the death of a loved one, a a serious illness or a family tragedy. It’s very important to express those feelings of sadness, even if they hit you in a store!
In these times of violence and discord in many areas of our lives, sometimes wonderfully positive events happen to us. Luckily, when the sadness over my hair loss finally hit, I was surrounded by people filled with understanding and compassion. On this Thanksgiving weekend, I’m very thankful for those kind people.
MEMO: Your Turn is a feature of the Wednesday and Saturday Opinion page. To submit a column for consideration, call Rebecca Nappi/459-5496, or Doug Floyd/459-5466.