USA travel summer 2011, is it really 2011?

Is it a new year and what has changed? Here I am again in the USA on summer holiday and there are those usual comparisons to "when I lived here...". So, in the supermarket yesterday buying the usual "time to load up the emergency shelter" amount of food I was at the checkout and as the cashier was alone I began bagging to keep the flow going and honestly to get out more quickly.She made no comment as I had bagged my 10th or so sack and she finally had a moment to turn to this task. Just a brisk, thanks. And went ahead to bag the final 2. I said, sure, reminded me of my younger days. But still no comment came back. Not a note other than that "thanks" she had dropped in passing a few moments earlier.Am I getting touchy? Am I expecting too much? Do all patrons bag their own now in 2011? Or all those who dare buy more than a decent amount of groceries, like $35 or so? I live in a country where you must bag all your own purchases, bar none. So, I felt I was doing this cashier a favor. Not that I wanted anything back. But what had changed? I bagged for years and had my times where I was truly thankful for that customer which offered to help out no matter the moment. I always took the second to thank them for the assistance. Even though it was a part of my job that they were also paying for.I guess where this really gets interesting, is in the fact that I am raising my own boys now to still respect these moments where a little bit of assistance of where receiving it that one shows their appreciation or at least let it be known that something special occurred. They seem to get it but when witness to this event they also ask what does this really mean? Me too.