"Thank you, Barbara"

I was never so happy to hear your voice, Barbara, that of a real life human being. The other, a virtual assistant, representing a competitor of your company made it very clear that to try and cancel an appointment was impossible. I had to enter my 'card' then listen to his list of approved choices, none of which applied in my case. This I would not do. What if I was a new client? I would have no card to enter. So now what?

The machine continued, trying to exact revenge upon a simple human being -me- trying to cancel an appt. What else could I do? In five seconds Barbara did what the virtual assistant could not. An appt. for 9:00 am Monday morning for company A was cancelled, quickly and effortlessly. I was ever so grateful. The human called Barbara had come to my rescue.. “Are you real”? I asked. “Yes, I am” she responded. Thank you so much for being human. She laughed. I was comforted.

This 9:00 am slot was a premium spot so cancelling it was uppermost in my mind. I was compelled- it was my duty, after all - to cancel this time slot so others could use it. Time is money as they say. Doing it Monday morning would be too late. Premium spots are premium for a reason. I was comforted in knowing there are real people answering phones, treating the customers as they expect to be treated. Do we not matter anymore?

The bothersome virtual voice kept asking me to enter my card. I had redialed thinking I might have missed my category somehow. I had not. I listened again to the list. All I wanted was a representative to come in with the customary "May I help you?” (Wishful thinking.) What games are being played here? What if your query does not line up with what is being offered from the official list given? Oh my.

Today's phones are incredible marvels of the modern digital age. Calling the customer for information will not be done. Don't be fooled, they say. Online is easy also. Yes, it certainly is - for companies in charge not necessarily us, their clients/servants. Why can't a call be just that a call? When the grid collapses we all suffer in a myriad of ways. 

While shopping for a few grocery items, we faced  the store's internal system collapse. It was not the first time, however.  Cash was king in that moment. I had it but the customer in front of me did not. I checked my wallet for the gold standard of all. It carried us both. A sigh of relief. The customer tried to figure out a way to repay me. Pay it forward I replied. The thought of trying to meet up in today's busy world seemed silly.We would spend money and time trying. It was no big deal. (I had not bought him a car.)

We all do things to help others. Other deeds rated higher than mine did that day. I helped out a friend who would eventually help out another in need. Barbara restored my faith in common sense that day. She was real and so was I. Something to think about. A comforting thought for the future. You restored my faith, Barbara.   Thank you.