132 Comments
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Lee Desmond's avatar

Another Norman Rockwell in words. Thank you Sean. ❤️

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Doug Hipp's avatar

This,Love, is what our country really needs right now. And unfortunately closer to home our community needs Love. All started with a smile. This simple kind act can cause just a nano second of change. Happy 4th of July to all!

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Mike Toomey's avatar

It’s out there if we slow down, really open our eyes, and pay attention. It’s been there the whole time. Contagious affection for one another. That’s a pandemic I can sink my teeth into.

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Kathy Stephens's avatar

You may have to start your own column!

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Mike Toomey's avatar

I officially did yesterday! Subscribe!

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Sy Anne's avatar

I just did. Enjoyed reading some of your work!

We have some things in common.

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Liz Flaherty's avatar

The best kind of contagion--a smile. Happy 4th of July, Jamie and Sean.

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Paul McCutchen's avatar

I was in Walmart with the wife and as we were shopping there was a particular item that was on a higher shelf. I asked one of the associates if they could help me. The associate smiled and called out "Jenny". Around the corner came the beautiful young lady with a big smile and standing about 6 feet tall. She reached up and plucked my item down and asked if she could get anything else. I said, "That is all and thanks". The associate I was talking to at first told me she was not only tall but had a big heart.

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Donna Buchanan's avatar

I am short and have the same problem of not being able to reach things on a high shelf.

I look for someone tall to help me, usually it will be a man. I always make them laugh or smile when I tell them that I always look for a good looking man to help me! They leave with a smile and a new step in their walk! My heroes!

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Cheryl Brown's avatar

I too am vertically challenged, and have asked other taller shoppers for assistance. I always thank them for not laughing at my statuesque appearance, and they most often respond with a smile!!

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LARRY HOWARD's avatar

I use the power chair/basket so am also vertically challenged, as well as horrozonally SP? for things in the back of the shelf. Both staff & other shoppers have been very helpful to this 85 year old man. Thanks, & God bless all!

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Pholiday's avatar

Y'all don't just climb the shelves !? 😜

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E. Sherman's avatar

Sometimes I do when there’s no one around to help, but I’ve found that most people love to be able to help.

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Julie RN's avatar

If there is no tall customer in sight, and no associate with a grabber thingy, I trot over to the mop section and pick out one with a rectangular head on it. Works great for reaching and pulling an item towards me. Not a good idea for a glass item, though! I have no control over the landing of anything that’s airborne. And yes, I have been known to leave the mop there.

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Cheryl Brown's avatar

I like your solution!

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Jeanmarie Hill: What Remains's avatar

God bless this America, Sean! Thank you! 🇺🇲❤️🙏

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Bill Bass's avatar

Excellent, Sean. Simply excellent.

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Patti Adkisson's avatar

I’m going to have to start looking with different eyes, ones that can see the love.

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Donna Buchanan's avatar

YES!

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Linda Eriksson's avatar

Thanks for putting the feelings of so many of us into words. Nobody says it quite like you do. A happy and safe Fourth to you and yours. God bless America! I love her, warts and all!

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Dina Voutour's avatar

I loved reading this! It put a smile on my face!

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Cindy Gallop's avatar

100% LOVE this walk around in Walmart…from the smiling greeter at the door to the cornrow styled helper!!! Smiling is contagious….I smiled all the way through! The description of the sweet maternal greeter’s smile was a chapter in a book! I wish she could read this!!! Shopping for smiles made a wonderful story and prepares a happy spirit for our country’s birthday tomorrow!

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James Yancey's avatar

My dad was a Walmart greeter. He greeted all with a smile and yet his mistake was people would stop and talk to him. Walmart let him go because he was told he was only to greet people and not have conversations with the shoppers. He took his termination with a smile and continued to greet and talk to people wherever he went.

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Linda Bragg's avatar

Too bad they did not recognize his contribution to a friendly store shopping experience.

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Julie RN's avatar

🖤Shame on that store manager🖤

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Edward M. Caldwell's avatar

I wish everyone would see what you see. ❤️

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Jan's avatar

I believe his writing is helping many of us to do that.

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Dan Davis's avatar

Believe in the good America not the televised America. I was in Walmart yesterday and it started to rain, hard. We live in the desert. We are in 30 year drought and it's the fire season. The rain was loud on the roof. When I looked at the lady in front of me in the checkout aisle we both smiled. I said, "Nice." She said "Nice." All around us the everyone started smiling. Grinning like a bunch of happy children. God bless all those all those smiling shoppers. Thank you Jesus for the rain!

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Erica's avatar

I am looking at the world through these eyes today. Thank you for the reminder !!!!

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P  Naylor's avatar

Dear Sean, in May I suffered a stroke which affected a part of my brain on the left side that, among other things, left me unable to read. At that time, you were very near to finishing your journey on the Camino de Santiago. I was quite disappointed that I could no longer read your daily updates or your homecoming story, but had every confidence that one day I would be able.

As of now, in such a short period of time, Speech Therapy has helped me get to the point that I can read and sound out difficult words well enough to read pretty much anything. Even if it is at the speed of molasses in February. I can again read Sean of the South commentaries! The brain works so very hard to knit itself back together. It is truly an amazing gift from God. I give him thanks every day for allowing me this particular journey. I had forgotten what excitement each step of learning to read brought to me as a child.

Your ‘Walmart’ story, as so many others you write, filled me with special pleasure today. When we open our eyes and truly look into each other’s eyes, we see that we are all God’s children, made in his image which is love and mercy itself.

I agree that love is indeed thicker than blood. Jesus Christ demonstrated that so perfectly at his crucifixes. After being flailed, cruelty beaten, kicked, mocked, spit upon, carrying His heavy cross and being nailed to it, he never stopped loving us. As his side was pierced and his blood flowed out as a fount of mercy for us, HE LOVED US. Will always love us. That’s beyond thick. When you know, you know, and it shows.

Love you Sean!

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Anne Arthur's avatar

Glad to hear that you are healing well already. I am praying for complete recovery for you.

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P  Naylor's avatar

God bless you Anna. I appreciate those prayers.

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Sheri K's avatar

So glad you're making such impressive progress. Reading Sean is a healthy way to get your brain working. Praying God will give you a full recovery.

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P  Naylor's avatar

Thanks Sherri. Whatever the final outcome, I give thanks to God for the lessons both learned and given by all involved. What a ride!

God bless you.

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