The Extra Mile

When I began working for WBTW in our Lumberton Bureau in 2002, my former co-worker, Tasha Oxendine, a veteran of the business and an Eastern Carolina native, had a quick but effective talk with me one day about, basically, how to talk to people.
I had grown up in Maryland, surrounded by people from the north (call them "yankess" at your own risk!). She perhaps felt I wasn't taking the time to get to know people, but just getting to what I wanted from them right away.
Tasha's lesson was something i didn't really appreciate at first, but, I have realized since that it has become valuable in my quest to find some semblance of community--or home-town feel--in my new life away from my hometown.
In the 15 or so months I lived in Robeson County, I found many places of business that I could count on for great service, and for a friendly face whenever I stopped by.
I went to see Layton Britt for a haircut two weeks after moving to town, and kept going back for close to three years--even after I moved to Florence.
When gas prices got too high, I just couldn't justify it any more, and shame on me, because Mr. Layton is a gentleman, a friend, and a great barber.
He made me feel right at home every time, and always had a good story or joke handy, and he's been cutting hair in that spot for many, many years.
Or how about Mr. Linwood Hayes and his beautiful wife, Sarah, up at Tar Packers in St. Pauls?
You wouldn't find a better meal in Robeson County, and not in a nicer community.
Mr. Linwood always bows for the ladies, and helps them with their chair, and always stops by to make sure the meal is everything we wanted.
He really knows how to take care of a customer, and we visited Tar Packers many times, including several times after moving south of the border.
Once I moved to Florence, I found a new barber, Mr. Larry Clark (I'm pretty sure that's his last name!) in Florence, right on Irby Street.
Same as Layton--he always made me feel at home, and had some encouraging words, or a great story handy.
The folks down at Fatz Grill at Exit 164 took to us WBTW'ers. In fact, one day, I ate lunch AND dinner there!
We were always welcome there, and at the Quiznos (and the late, great Chicken Kitchen) just down Highway 52.
But when it came time to move to Myrtle Beach, I was skeptical.
I thought to myself: "Self? Could this tourist town and community of transplants really be so friendly?"
Indeed!
A couple weeks ago, I stopped by the cleaners near my house on Highway 544, a shop I had only visited once since August.
As I walked up, the lady who owns the place (shame on me for not knowing her name) said, "Well, hello, Rusty. Nice to see you. How's Sarah?"
For her to remember my wife's name made my day, and made me realize how wonderful it is when someone goes the extra mile.
She didn't say something like, "oh, how's the weather going to be?" or even, "I saw you on there (TV) last night."
Instead, she went straight for my heart, and related to me on a personal level.
Or, what about my man Jack down at Sears, in the Auto Care shop, who's helped me and Sarah out with oil changes, new batteries, and tire issues.
He always has a joke for me, and takes pride in helping out not only me, but our station, as well.
And the folks over at Pizzadelphia in Socastee are always in a great mood, no matter how busy they are, or which day I go in there.
Lastly, Sarah and I always look for Desiree when we go by Reeds Jewelers in the mall.
She sold us our wedding bands, and is always willing to clean and buff our rings for us, no matter how busy she is.
It's this kind of customer service that makes me want to go back again and again, but it also makes me feel like no matter where I move (and I've done my share of moving the past 10 years or so), I can always find some sense of community, based not on what I do for a living, but on folks just being nice.
I'm just sayin' is all.

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