We all have stories about really terrible customer service, and I’ve often heard that people are many times more likely to tell about their bad experiences, then their good ones. And how many times have you written a letter to praise a company versus to complain?

So, let me tell you about really amazing customer service.

The manager of our local Shaw’s Supermarket is Angela. She is warm and friendly, greeting my family with a smile. When the kids are with us, she gives them a hug. And if I’m traveling alone, she is quick to ask how they are doing.

But being friendly isn’t enough to make for a great customer service experience. At the grocery story it comes down to efficiency.

You can always tell when Angela is on duty, because no matter the time or day, the lines are minimal if non-existent. Acting as a traffic cop, she moves shoppers and their carts from line to line, keeping everything moving. When she sees a family like mine - crazed kids, frazzled mom and a boatload of groceries - she’s sure to navigate us through to the shortest escape route. She’s quick to work the cashier or man the bagging area if needed.

Before we moved to Ashland, I was a Stop and Shop girl. And the Stop and Shop here in town is certainly more modern and offers a few more amenities. Steve even thinks some of the prices are a little better, but I can tell you, just like I told him, it doesn’t matter. Shaw’s has Angela.

Every time I leave the store, I swear I’m going to write to the corporate office of Shaw’s to tell them what a gem they have in Angela. But after I get the groceries home and put away, I never seem to get the letter written. Just writing this has taken me almost an hour due to child-interruptions.

So anyway, thank you Angela. Thanks for the smile. Thanks for taking my check when I forgot my wallet. Thanks for getting me out quickly. Thanks, in short, for making my life a little easier.