All these folks deserve special credit - and so little space

Several folks have taken the time and trouble this past week to suggest things I could write about in this column.

I like that.

These suggestions indicate some of you still care -- about something, about anything, about what's good and decent instead of what is expected from the in-crowd.

I told some of my advisers that there are a lot of people who deserve special mention. I don't know all their names. I know them because they are outstanding individuals because of the way they conduct themselves and their businesses.

I don't mean to embarrass anyone, but I'm going to name names today. Why? Because it's time someone took the guesswork out of the string of compliments I'm about to deliver.

Let's start with the fellow who prepares our tax returns every year. We've only been in Cape Girardeau 19 years, and Gary Stanley has filled out all those IRS forms for us each year. When I visit Gary for our "annual meeting," as I call it, we spend most of our time together discussing many things -- our children, politics, the future of newspapers, the economy. I know tax season is supposed to be something you dread, but I eagerly look forward each year to my day of tax reckoning. I hope you too can say that about your tax preparer.

My wife and I never had been to the Chick-fil-A restaurant, a relative newcomer to Cape Girardeau. Recently, we were headed for Best Buy, and since it was lunchtime we decided to drop in at Chick-fil-A for a chicken sandwich. We were both impressed with the high quality of service and the friendly folks who delivered it. When I mentioned this to some of our friends, they all agreed that Chick-fil-A has some of the best service in town. Maybe that's why there always is a line of cars in the drive-through and why the restaurant was full at 2 on a weekday afternoon, well past the noon rush.

On another day we went to the Outback Steakhouse restaurant. This is another place we have not frequented much for reasons we really can't explain. This visit, however, will encourage us to return. Our server -- a New Hamburger -- was a delight as well as competent. We were in no hurry, but one of the managers noticed that the appetizer we ordered had taken too long to arrive at our table. She made a point of apologizing and telling us we wouldn't be charged. As we were preparing to leave, we asked for a to-go box to take some leftover steak home to Miss Kitty. The box was personalized with a small hand-drawn heart and this message: "To go for Miss Kitty." That was an extra touch that made us both smile.

It has become rather obvious in these still tight economic times that some businesses are trying really hard to keep customers coming through their doors -- and to keep them coming back. The ones that go the extra smile know who they are.

I wish I could list all the ones we run into, such as the always helpful folks at Metro Lighting, who always have the exact odd light bulb I need when one of our lamps goes dark. Or the folks at PC Wellness Centers who make you feel like family and cheer you up despite whatever pain needs attention. Or the folks at Pagliai's Pizza and Pasta who have memorized our usual Thursday-night pizza order. Or Meyer Supply, which is the only store in town that has absolutely anything and everything you go there for, and they gladly help you find it. And they gently point out you're asking for the wrong thing -- "here's what you need."

By the same token, the business owners who think they don't need to do anything special to stay alive know who they are. I only wish they would pay attention to their competitors who are trying harder. They should know by now that saying "Have a nice day" doesn't mean I will.

Or, as my friend Bill Duckworth in Topeka used to respond to the ritual "Have a nice day":

"Sorry, I already have other plans."

Joe Sullivan is the retired editor of the Southeast Missourian.