Fed-Ex Follies

I spend some time at a Fed-Ex/Kinko's four blocks away from my office, using only the Kinko's counter as we can Fed-Ex directly from our office. But there are certain things that Kinko's can produce that requires me to visit the purple walled space. I have learned, after repeat visits in one day, to come prepared with all tabs marked and very strict instructions as to what needs to be done, getting everything down to a smooth science so I can walk out twenty minutes later with my final products in arm. They always greet me with smiles and somehow remember my name (although they call me my boss's name because that is the name in their system and I just have never corrected them...I sometimes forget though and look at them blankly before remembering). Since I began going there months ago, I have often been amused by the lack of inefficiency of having employees who are not entirely trained to ship packages work for Fed-Ex and employees of Fed-Ex trying to work a printer. To make the experience even more comical is the customers inability to work within the confines of the system, often ending in a tantrum because they need their 1200 page prospectus bound immediately or their cats photograph laminated within five minutes or else! Lines form, six employees stand in the back trying to stare anywhere but into the restless eyes of those who wait and no one knows where anyone is to help with Fed-Ex. I laugh only because there is really nothing else to do and I can't help but wonder what is going on behind the counter. The aproned employees look frenzied but are not actually doing anything. When I finally do get to the counter, my friend who knows exactly what needs to be done, disappears on her lunch break and I am face to face with the "new" guy. Needless to say we had a lot to go over. 

Hours later, two mix-ups and many smiles to try and rush the process along, I left to return to my office relieved that I had time to package the proposals up and hand them off to Fed-Ex. I double checked to make sure all of the books were perfect and then noticed the last one had tabs in all of the wrong places. HOW. DID. THIS. HAPPEN? I laughed. It was just not my day. Back to Kinko's I went and they knew right when I walked through the doors that they had messed up. I had a choice right then - to huff and puff and make a scene saying how incompetent they were or I could just politely say that there must have been an honest mistake while they had been rushing to get the order finished for me. While I stood waiting and the line grew shorter and shorter, I found myself smiling once again. The "new" guy let out a relieved sigh when I approached and he saw that I was giggling. I left with a perfectly tabbed proposal five minutes later. Today was one of those days that the stars were not aligned and instead of fighting that, I had to be amused. While tomorrow I may burst with irritation for the same thing, I felt happy walking home today. Life is to short not to see the folly in the imperfections and to love even the days where you step in a puddle.

Please remind me of this the next time I am in a panic of frustration...until then, I remain always and ever, thankful.

Bear