Dear Editor:

Jim Pattison has every right to be smiling in your March 13 story, Pattison Climbs Forbes List. Indeed he has worked hard, wisely and successfully.

However, while shopping at Save On Foods, I do not see many smiles on the clerks helping customers using the "self-serve" checkouts. Could that be because they see themselves more and more replaced by machines?

No doubt shoppers lead busy lives, but standing in the checkout line can lead to friendly discussions, chats with children, quiet prayer time or thinking happy memories. Machines do not smile or wish you a "good day" or ask if you need help with carry-out.

Call me old-fashioned, but I call myself a happy person-to-person individual and a looking-for-a-cashier shopper.

Jessie Jacklin

North Vancouver