My job as a Wal-Mart cashier isn't too exciting and at times can be downright frustrating. However, I had two experiences yesterday (one on the clock and one off the clock) that made me think.
I checked out one customer who was buying a few packs of sports cards (hockey and basketball, I think). I asked the man who they were for - him or his son. He said it was for his son, who appeared to be around 5. He began to explain, and I heard the word "cancer". I inquired, and his son was diagnosed and treated with a cancer of the eye around two-and-a-half years ago. He has been cancer-free, and I pray to God that he remains that way. Sadly, he lost one eye during the fight. Apparently many athletes have shown this kid generosity; he has a pair of special-order Jevon Kearse shoes, gloves from Randy Moss, and memorabilia from hockey players (I'm guessing the Nashville Predators, since we are in Kentucky and his treatment was at Vanderbilt).
As I was getting ready to check-out after work, I went to the card aisle to pick up two packs of 2011 Topps. I ran into an elderly man, who appeared to be in his 80s. He was holding two blasters in his hands - 2011 Donruss Threads basketball and 2011 Donruss. I began talking with him and discovered that he was a collector. He mentioned that he had recently been sick, and during this time he had put his cards in a lockbox. Now he was getting them back out. He had been to nearby Wal-Marts and even the nearest card shop, and was trying to find some more John Wall rookies. He said he had already found most of the newer rookies. I picked up a box of 2010-11 Prestige and asked if he had found these. He seemed like he hadn't, and thanked me for showing him.
The young, the old, and everything in between; this hobby affects us all.
I checked out one customer who was buying a few packs of sports cards (hockey and basketball, I think). I asked the man who they were for - him or his son. He said it was for his son, who appeared to be around 5. He began to explain, and I heard the word "cancer". I inquired, and his son was diagnosed and treated with a cancer of the eye around two-and-a-half years ago. He has been cancer-free, and I pray to God that he remains that way. Sadly, he lost one eye during the fight. Apparently many athletes have shown this kid generosity; he has a pair of special-order Jevon Kearse shoes, gloves from Randy Moss, and memorabilia from hockey players (I'm guessing the Nashville Predators, since we are in Kentucky and his treatment was at Vanderbilt).
As I was getting ready to check-out after work, I went to the card aisle to pick up two packs of 2011 Topps. I ran into an elderly man, who appeared to be in his 80s. He was holding two blasters in his hands - 2011 Donruss Threads basketball and 2011 Donruss. I began talking with him and discovered that he was a collector. He mentioned that he had recently been sick, and during this time he had put his cards in a lockbox. Now he was getting them back out. He had been to nearby Wal-Marts and even the nearest card shop, and was trying to find some more John Wall rookies. He said he had already found most of the newer rookies. I picked up a box of 2010-11 Prestige and asked if he had found these. He seemed like he hadn't, and thanked me for showing him.
The young, the old, and everything in between; this hobby affects us all.
