More than just a customer

Cutter's Log - Stardate 1102.60.70

Working for Fourth of July night, I kind of dread this day because of the rush that comes with it. Despite Dixon's fireworks going on, there wasn't much of one. But that didn't make me have a good day.

That day I found out that one of my beloved regular customers passed away. Dorothy, and her husband Bill, were frequent customers at the Shell station for the past three years. They sat at the tables, had coffee, scratched off lotto tickets, and played the Pick 3 and Pick 4 every night.

Dorothy was 85 and had been suffering from Alzheimer's Disease for the past couple of months.

They made an effort to come and play lotto every night that either Billy or I worked. They had been playing the Pick 3 every night for over 30 years, and are what I call die-hard lottery players. They were more than just that, though. Over time, they became good friends of mine, Joe's, Dave's, and a few others. Wherever he was, she was. Wherever she was, he was.

A couple of months ago her condition began to settle in, and she had to be in a nursing home. That's the last time I saw her and Bill.

Three or four nights a week for nearly three years, Dorothy and Bill had been a part of my life. Now she is gone. All of us at the nightshift will miss her.