THE QUARTER-HUG

We had a wonderful visit with our niece who was visiting us from my old hometown, Troy, New York. I am now ready to continue a series of posts on "HUGS". My initial article on Hugs, posted in March, 2007 explained reasons why I hug.

Today, I am relating experiences with what I call the "quarter-hug" which I share with tellers at our local credit union.

Our newly formed non-profit organization, had elected officers and prepared to set up our banking accounts. We made an appointment at our local credit union to meet with the new manager. When we arrived the smiling manager welcomed us into his office.

After all the myriad of papers had been signed, we all stood to leave. Jim, the manager, shook hands with each one of the board officers. As he turned toward me he saw my outstretched arms. I took a couple of steps toward him and gave him a hug. I stepped back and noticed that he had a surprised looking half-smile on his face. We thanked him for his help and left.

A couple of weeks later, my wife, Sharon and I had to have some papers notarized. We signed in at the credit union. The manager led us into his office. Almost immediately he recognized me and commented, "Oh, you're the hugger."

I smiled and said, "I sure am, so you know what's coming."

He smiled and said, "I'm not used to having customers hug me."

"Isn't it nice to have one who does?" I responded.


A faint smile crossed his face. We completed our business, we thanked him and I gave him another hug.

After that, whenever I went to the bank and noticed he wasn't too busy, I walked into his office for a hug. I was always greeted with a broad smile.

A couple of years before he arrived I began reaching over the wide counter and hugging the tellers. One day a new teller was at one of the windows. After completing my deposit, he asked if there was anything further he could do for me. I responded with my usual, "Yes, I could use my half-a-hug."

He looked at the distance between us and replied, "You, mean a quarter-hug, don't you?" With that we both laughed and "quarter-hugged." Thus was born the quarter-hug, which continues eleven years later.

Over the years, due to the quarter-hug, some other humorous incidents have occurred. A couple of them follow.

A few months ago a new teller waited on me. As we finished, I raised my arms and started to ask for my usual quarter-hug. Before I could get the words out, the young teller smiled broadly and exclaimed, "Oh, you must be the little old quarter-hugger they told me about in training."

I thought, "What a credit union, preparing new staff for the 'little old quarter-hugger!'"

The second humorous incident occurred with my wife, Sharon. A couple of months ago she went into the credit union to cash a check. A new teller was being trained by another experienced staff member. Sharon placed the check on the counter and asked to cash it. The new teller asked her to see her driver's license. The experienced trainer said, "She's okay, we all know her, she's the wife of the old quarter-hugger." I found it very amusing, especially since my wife goes there much more often than I do.

A few weeks ago I was in the credit union to make a deposit. As I was standing in line one of the management staff walked through the lobby. She stopped to chat and gave me a hug. When I completed my transaction I reached over the counter and gave the teller a quarter-hug. Usually, when I do it, people in line snicker. This time however, one of the men who was in line behind me commented, "What a credit union, they even hug the customers!"

As a special anniversary celebration the credit union invited its members to a reception in a large conference room at a local hotel. Many of the top administrators were there receiving members. I gave each one of them a hug. After the first few in line the remainder knew that a hug was on its way. Isn't it nice to know that your financial institution has huggable staff and administrators?

Have you quarter-hugged your teller lately?

Hugs, In Christ's and My Love,

Don E. Cunningham, Author Copyright 7-31-07 669