A large woman

I put in a usual order for groceries to be delivered. It's a large order. When I do this myself I always have a good time with people, the workers and customers alike. And I feel great doing it too. So I don't understand why the last five times as I'm loading someone either coming out of the store or entering the store stops as they're passing and offers me help loading the truck. I must have truck-loading body dysmorphia. I think that I look solid steady and strong, when by actual appearance I look like a worn out tired mess.

I don't know.

I do know the whole thing is exhausting, the driving, parking, shopping, loading the truck, unloading the truck, two trips upstairs, unloading the cart, putting everything away. I have to sit down and shoot my arm full of heroine. I meant to say rest.

So, ordering for delivery really does make a huge difference. They do all that.

But this girl was different. They've always been within the first minute of the window. She was 2.5 hours late. They never bothered texting before. She texted each step. She texted each substitution. She texted her starting, her changing stores, her traffic situation, her lateness twice, her parking situation. She is new and uncertain and not independent. I felt like I had done the shopping myself.

I waited for her outside but did not see her. She was late beyond her announced lateness. Then I saw woman carrying a few heavy groceries, two items were the same as I ordered, but hardly the full order and no cart for the rest. I opened the door for who I assumed was a resident who I hadn't yet met. She is a large woman. Easily twice my weight. And young. Are you Heather?

"Yes."

"Oh. Those are my groceries."

I escorted her upstairs. She carried the groceries untroubled, uncomplaining, like a pack animal. I felt bad. I was impressed.

They published her picture. 

"Why didn't you bring a cart?"

"I'm new. I don't have my cart yet."

"I have a cart. 

"Great." 

She went down with my cart and brought back the rest and unloaded it all. It sounds like a small thing, but that right there saved me a great deal of trouble. And she had intended to do all that without using a cart. Four to six times the difficulty for her than it would have been for me. It would have taken several trips back and forth. And that's unacceptable. Just thinking about her doing that makes me a bit crazy. It's a lot of trouble just entering the building from street parking, and fairly long walks down hallways and waiting for elevators. Passing through security doors, knocking on my door. Where it could be a single straight shot, and quick. 

"Would you like something to drink?" 

"No thank you." 

We discussed the substitutions. I talked a bit about what I intended to do with what she brought up. She doesn't have much training in food preparation and she seemed to be specifically interested in this. She substituted green cabbage for Nappa cabbage so now I have to go out and get it. And I also have to deal with this stupid green cabbage. She substituted microwave popcorn for popcorn kernels, and there is only one thing I can do with the microwave type. 

Incidentally, the generic microwave popcorn is better than my own popcorn made the traditional way, even enhanced with cheese and spices as I do. Theirs is more tender and it's done in 3 minutes with no mess to clean up. My attitude changed about microwave popcorn. I was put off by the smell of the oil. But I must face it. Theirs is better.

"The website says a charge for delivery and another charge for driver, and that money goes directly to you." 

"That's right."

"The amount they have for you is ridiculously low so I tripled it. You really are a big help to me."

And I mean big.

"Thank you." 

"And if I have you again, your parking is arranged in the back. I already told the guys down there to expect a delivery,  that you'll only be a few minutes. They like me down there, and they all go, 'sure, no problem.'"

"Great. I hope you do get me again. I hope I get you again. This is a pleasure. This is new for me. I like it. You've been helpful to me." 

I think she'd like to hang out a bit and possibly have me show her about food preparation. She was fully attentive when I was talking and in no haste to move on. Aside from her job. That's how it sounded to me. So then, although a bit of a trouble compared with all the other delivery people, all much more independent, more capable, sure of themselves, and quick, we connected, and I must say I have respect for the very real hard physical work that I see women doing, and see it repeatedly. In no way did she shirk physical work. I could not carry the things that she did. She is impressive.