I am the first one to complain if I don’t get good customer service when I go shopping. I used to work in retail sales at J&R Variety Store at 63rd and Pulaski. Remember our neighborhood dime store? Every customer was important to me. That’s because I always enjoyed working in retail sales.
My first sales job was many decades ago. I worked in a men’s clothing store. I loved helping all the customers. I sold a lot of jeans. The best part, however, was that I met my husband there. He was the tallest customer we ever had. I didn’t have anything that would fit him. He was also the only customer I ever had that didn’t make a purchase. It didn’t matter. Roman turned out to be my favorite shopper. We’ve been married for 49 years.
Back to good customer service. I recently shopped at the Walgreens at 63rd and Austin. I didn’t really expect excellent customer service, but that is exactly what I got. The staff was so helpful. I was looking for baby care items because my son Joe and his wonderful wife, Ellie, are expecting a baby. One Walgreens associate helped me find exactly what I was looking for and even provided a lot of information about it.
When I went to the cash register area, there was a long line but a short wait because there was more than one cashier. The cashier that took care of me was so friendly and considerate. Really exceptional. Good customer service!
Plus, I saw a stack of the Southwest News-Herald newspapers in a rack by the door. Sometimes I get calls from readers letting me know they never received their newspaper in the mail. Now I can recommend a good place for them to get a replacement copy.
Things to do
Here’s a reminder. The Greater Lawn WIC Clinic at 4150 W. 55th Street provides free fresh produce to southwest side families every month. Their next distribution date is July 8 from 9:30 to 11 a.m.
The Archer Heights Branch Library Crime Book Club meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at 5055 S. Archer. Their next meeting will take place on July 8. They will discuss the book “Not a Sound” by Heather Gudenkauf. Their next meeting will take place on August 12. The book “Long Bright River” by Liz Moore is the next book for discussion. Call the library for more information at 312-747-9241.
Congratulations to Jason and Joaquin from St. Daniel the Prophet Church Boy Scout Troop 475 on earning the rank of Eagle Scout. This is the highest rank in scouting. What a great achievement! Congratulations also to their scout leaders and to Jason and Joaquin’s parents.
All the staff and bowlers at Lawn Lanes Bowl (6750 S. Pulaski) would like to say congratulations to our very own Matthew Kuba on his perfect 300 game. Matthew bowled a perfect 300 at the USBC Open Championships recently. The staff also thanks all who participated in this year’s No Tap Tournament. Call Lawn Lanes for more information on leagues and open bowling at 773-582-2525.
Madame Elizabeth Boitsov, the director of the Boitsov Classical Ballet School at 5638 W. 63rd Street, says, “It’s time to enroll for the next session of ballet classes. Make this the very best summer for your child.” Call 312-663-0844.
Happy birthday, USA!
Finally, I would like to wish everyone a happy Fourth of July and happy birthday to the USA.
I am not embarrassed to say that I love my country. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. Most people feel the way I do. However, if you don’t love our country, I ask: Why are you here? We have such freedom, including the freedom to leave if we want. Why do so many people leave their own countries and come here to live?
My grandmother Sarah came here in 1912. She escaped from Russia and rode in a horse-drawn wagon to the Russian border with her three children. She was pregnant with her fourth child, my dad, Joseph. Sarah traveled across Europe and arrived at Ellis Island with her children. The first thing she did when she got off the boat was drop to her knees and kiss the ground. She spent months at Ellis Island before she and her children were sent to Chicago.
Her husband, my grandfather Abraham, started out in that covered wagon but was captured at the Russian border. He was forced to serve in the Soviet army. Abraham escaped after two years and somehow made his way to the U.S., where he was reunited with Sarah and his children. By then, my father was three years old. My dad told me he had hazy memories of sitting on his father’s lap. He remembered seeing a pocket watch tucked in his father’s vest pocket. Their time together was so brief. Abraham died soon after he came here. The last thing he did was gather his family around him.
My grandparents were so grateful to be here. Their gratitude brought them hope and happiness. Today, not all are grateful to be here. I guess that’s the difference. It is why some are happy knowing that their sacrifices and hard work will make it even better for future generations.
Sing to the Lord with grateful praise. Make music to our God on the harp. Psalm 147:7.
May all people living in the U.S. hear the song of the grateful ones. Happy Fourth of July!
West Lawn correspondent Peggy Zabicki can be reached at 773-504-9327.