Traveling to Boston, I went to Dollar to pick up a rental car. The girl at the counter seemed lifeless and sad. She greeted me with “license and credit card” and as much as I tried to engage her in smiling conversation the whole way, she stuck to the script and seemed confused when I joked or tried to get her into a conversation. Sitting in my newly rented Hyundai Sonata, I decided that I had to try something. I wrote a note that said “Thank you for your help today. I appreciate it.” and left it for her at her station. I don’t know if she got it but I hope that it lightened her mood and made her feel appreciated.