I was out doing the grocery shopping a few days ago at my little slightly upscale supermarket. You know, the kind where mothers are always calling out "Ashley"! (or Jason, or even God forbid, "Brittney"!)

As I was standing there..in baked beans, I think.. I watched a woman of about 40 come striding through the front door and head to the cold cuts counter, smiling all the way. I heard her greet the gal behind the counter in such a cheerful way that I did a double take. You see I'm one of those people who loves to talk to others in stores or elevators. I do it because it's fun, but I'm often aware of quizzical looks around me. I suspect many are thinking "what's he so damn cheerful about"? I'm not, really. I've got the same cares and concerns as most people, but I think being friendly to others in public, just serves to remind me that "I may never change the world, but I absolutely refuse to let it change me".

But I digress. Feeling rather foolhardy, I followed (at a discreet distance) this woman for a couple of aisles, and sure enough, I heard her say "how's it goin'"? to a box boy. What a contrast to the other shoppers going about their business with that drab "far away" look in their eyes. I decided to act. I went up to her and said "I've been noticing your smile, and I just want to thank you for it" (or something stupid like that). As I had hoped, she didn't pepper spray me, or even look like she thought I'd escaped from the looney bin. She simply said "why THANK you".

Made my day.

I know it's tough for a lot of people these days, and it's easy to feel "beaten down" by the system, or illness or just plain lonliness, but boy, a simple smile can show a lot of folks that your still a winner.

I'm not usually this sentimental.