Luckylittlelady’s Weblog

On Saturday, this was my horoscope:

“Different strokes for different folks. Today, more people around you will differ in their beliefs from yours. Rather than clash with all of them, listen respectfully to their opinions. Then only if absolutely necessary, try explaining your position. Great day to expose yourself to other points of view.”

It is a daily ritual of mine to check my horoscope during my morning cup, or two, or three of coffee.  I am always curious to see what the day may, perhaps, have in store for me.  It is not that I really believe that the horoscopes I read will actually become reality, but I always get a little giggle out of the prophecies that do sometimes pop up in mysterious ways.

Saturdays are a big day at work for me.  Lines form out the door with people waiting for a table to quench their thirst with a pint of a local, frosty, hoppy microbrew.  As a server in this establishment, I see the lines and half of my mind says, “good, the more people waiting, the more money I will make–bring it on!” but the other half of my head says, “uggghhhh, I am exhausted.”  The thing about being a server is that I have to wear a smile on my face and act like the happiest, cheeriest person, even when my shirt is covered in beer and my feet feel like they are turning into 2 by 4s. 

The constant smile is in hope that its contagiousness will somehow rub off onto the customers and in turn, create a circle of the utmost pleasurable experience for both myself and the patrons.  But, as experience has harshly taught me, even the toothiest, widest of smiles does not make a happy customer…

I dread greeting tables and having them look back at me like I have grass growing out of my ears.  The worst is when people don’t even look at you at all.  I had this very experience Saturday evening.  I bounced up to the table, playfully tossed down some Redhook coasters and smiled.  The couple sat there and I felt like I waited and waited for their heads to even turn in my direction.  Eventually, they turned their heads up at me ever so slowly.  I almost got out my can of WD-40 to help aid their movements along.  No smiles crossed their faces, they spoke to me in one word sentences and could not have been less personable.  Of course, I left the table stunned that people can act so disrespectfully, yet I tried not to take it personally and proceeded with taking care of them as I would any of my other tables. 

After a frosty beverage each, they began to warm up a little, but I still would not call them friendly by any means.  I continued with my smiling and went about my job which includes leaving a small trail of beer everywhere I go (not on purpose, of course).  Oops.  By the time they were finished and I had swiped their Alaska Airlines credit card, I dropped their check off at their table, thanked them for coming, and sent them off with a warm goodbye.   I didn’t expect much back in return, but I was wrong.

 Not only did this couple leave me a 30 percent tip, the man wrote a note on the charge slip that said, “You were awesome.  Absolutely above and beyond personable service.”  I had to look at it twice to make sure I was reading the words correctly.  To me, this was not only a compliment, but a lesson that I learned not to ever judge people and their kindness. 

As my horoscope said for that day, it was a “great day to expose myself to different points of view.”  I have learned a lot being a waitress, but what I have learned most is that everyone has a story.  I didn’t know anything about that couple, but for all I know, they could have had a horrible day, or they may just not be that social.  Yet I have learned that kindness can be shown in many, many different ways, not just through a smile.