I think people do not recognize the immense value of weak interpersonal bonds, like going to the same corner store all the time. But they are the glue that holds society together. It’s not the deep friendships, you can only have a few of those. It’s those people you are acquainted with, and look forward to seeing, people you wave to, all those little connections add up.
One of the many many reasons I hate big corporations that come in, plop down a walmart, and drive all the local owned businesses out of business.
I visited my dad, and saw the corner store I used to go to when I was a kid, at the top of my dads street. I walked in, and the guy who owned the store when I was 12 still owns it today. His hair is greyer, his face is older, but we IMMEDIATELY recognized each other. He used to have a smaller store across the street when I was 4, but moved to the bigger store when I was 6. He’s still there, AND he bought his competition. A different corner store 3 streets away.
He was out of the pina colada drink I used to buy as a kid. But it’s partially because the company that makes them went out of business 20 years ago. I jokingly said “The ONE TIME I come to visit, and you’re OUT???” And he said “Yeah yeah. Normally I’d have them in that cooler over there, but, ya know…I don’t get shipments anymore after that company closed.”
Now and Laters are $1.50 now!!! When I was a kid they were $0.05!!! And now they’re chewy!!! They used to be hard bricks that eventually softened up after 10 minutes. What is this chewey madness???
Yes!
My wife and I order breakfast once a week from this local place. They’ve undergone some changes and transitions over the years and in their current phase they partnered with another business (a coffee shop) where they use they kitchen space that came with the building and the coffee shop plays to their strengths.
We can’t make as much small talk as we used to with the owners of the restaurant when we go to pick up our food (ordered online 99% of the time), but there’s always a sense of connection in being recognized by the restaurant staff, who will pop out of the kitchen to hand me my order if the baristas are busy, or when the baristas see me and just grab my food from the order window and call my name before I’m halfway through the crowd of customers. I’m a big fish in a very small pond!
I think people do not recognize the immense value of weak interpersonal bonds, like going to the same corner store all the time. But they are the glue that holds society together. It’s not the deep friendships, you can only have a few of those. It’s those people you are acquainted with, and look forward to seeing, people you wave to, all those little connections add up.
One of the many many reasons I hate big corporations that come in, plop down a walmart, and drive all the local owned businesses out of business.
I visited my dad, and saw the corner store I used to go to when I was a kid, at the top of my dads street. I walked in, and the guy who owned the store when I was 12 still owns it today. His hair is greyer, his face is older, but we IMMEDIATELY recognized each other. He used to have a smaller store across the street when I was 4, but moved to the bigger store when I was 6. He’s still there, AND he bought his competition. A different corner store 3 streets away.
He was out of the pina colada drink I used to buy as a kid. But it’s partially because the company that makes them went out of business 20 years ago. I jokingly said “The ONE TIME I come to visit, and you’re OUT???” And he said “Yeah yeah. Normally I’d have them in that cooler over there, but, ya know…I don’t get shipments anymore after that company closed.”
Now and Laters are $1.50 now!!! When I was a kid they were $0.05!!! And now they’re chewy!!! They used to be hard bricks that eventually softened up after 10 minutes. What is this chewey madness???
The Hidden Brain podcast episode, “Relationships 2.0, The power of tiny interactions” is about just that! Very good episode of a very good podcast.
Yes!
My wife and I order breakfast once a week from this local place. They’ve undergone some changes and transitions over the years and in their current phase they partnered with another business (a coffee shop) where they use they kitchen space that came with the building and the coffee shop plays to their strengths.
We can’t make as much small talk as we used to with the owners of the restaurant when we go to pick up our food (ordered online 99% of the time), but there’s always a sense of connection in being recognized by the restaurant staff, who will pop out of the kitchen to hand me my order if the baristas are busy, or when the baristas see me and just grab my food from the order window and call my name before I’m halfway through the crowd of customers. I’m a big fish in a very small pond!