Marek

Oh, the National Parks are something else, aren’t they?

I’m not just talking about the landscape – though it can be breathtaking.
I’m not just talking about the history – though standing on the spot where
something or someone . . . it can be moving.

In addition to the obvious, we had the privilege and pleasure of meeting some truly warm, friendly, and helpful people that work for the NPS. Refreshing.

Until we encountered Mr. Grouch at a Grand Teton gift shop, we had only met the friendliest of folks. But, I don’t want to talk about him. ;-/ I want to talk about my favorite staff members...

Nancy . . . patient, knowledgeable, helpful . . . I was really impressed with this woman, so much so, I named my Yellowstone Association membership-welcome-wolf after her (which made her smile). I just don't think she ever had a wolf named after her before. Imagine!

I didn’t get a shot of Eric and his wife, a couple of retirees from Utah who chose to spend six weeks working at the Yellowstone laundry/shower house so that she, a photographer, could have inexpensive access to breathtaking vistas. We enjoyed conversing with them while we waited for our clothes to dry.

I did get a shot of the ranger who said my littlest fella made his day . . .

Q: Why do you want to be a Junior Ranger?
A: I want to be a Junior Ranger because I can see animals – but I really want to be a football player.

Honesty!

Yes, there were many others, but our favorite was Marek. What a sweetie!

This young man was from Poland, spending his summer in the Tetons. (You will thank me for sparing you details of how we managed to have about a dozen separate receipts at the gift shop in which he worked.*smile*) Here are a few tidbits of the conversation that transpired between us:

Me: How do you pronounce your name?
Marek: (I don’t know how to type this – just say it and roll that R like you imagine a Polish fella would)
Me: [practicing] Ma-rek.
[pause]
Marek: It’s just Mark.

Context: My girls had purchased all but four of the huckleberry candy sticks at the register. I decided, as he was ringing up my items, to throw one into my stack. Then another.
Marek: Look! There are only two more, would you like them, too?
Me: ;-P

Me: [holding a fist full of receipts] Marek, would you let us take your picture? Then you could say you got your pic taken with the woman who had the most purchases in your store in one . . .
Marek: . . . ever!

Okay, I know there is no way I captured his quick wit the way he shared it with us, but he was delightful young man, and we all left the store grinning. Thank you, Marek!


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