What did you say?
I had a very fast, fun vacation. I don't know what it is about blogging, but I found myself thinking at different points - I want to write about this and that. Maybe when we are so introspective to write about our lives - we begin truly noticing the world around us more. I'd like to think this is true as part of my windfall journey is to ensure I don't lose touch with reality. I digress. After an interesting flight and a two hour drive with a bit of an unexpected detour i.e. LOST (not the TV show), my companion and I decided to check into our hotel and catch a movie. You may be wondering why a movie on vacation? Well, it was DARK folks. More about the movie later. After the movie, we were truly exhausted and wanted a decent hot meal. There was a local "fern bar restaurant" (Barney - remember him? - he has dubbed them that) meaning a Friday's, Applebee's, Chili's, etc. kind of place. It was fairly emptied out as we sank into a booth. We were SO tired and SO hungry, but my companion had some pretty strict dietary requirements (not on the menu). Our waiter visited us quickly taking our drink orders and bringing them rapidly. As we ordered, I was outlining our order and he said, "Yes, we can do that and that and that." I was so relieved and grateful after the long trip. In very short order (almost as fast as a drive through window), our food appeared hot and perfect. I said to him, "Wow, you are SUPER." He turned to me with a straight look on his face and said, "What did you say? " Taken aback, I repeated it rather tentatively. (Did I mention he was slightly gothically attired? A few chains, black black hair?) He stood rigidly and said, "No one has ever said that to me before." As we began to eat, I mused over that. Could that really be? Could no one have ever said "you are super" to that young man? He eagerly kept refilling our drinks, asking if he could do anything else to help us (without being too intrusive).
And then I did it. After he brought me the check, I tripled his tip and took the food receipt listing and flipped it over and wrote "Believe in yourself." You'll not believe this because I still can't believe it myself - I signed it WINDFALL WOMAN. My companion and I waited until he disappeared into the kitchen and RAN like heck to our rental car and raced away. I wondered what he thought as I lay in bed that night. I also wondered how many children and young people in this world never hear a word of praise or encouragement. I wonder if that's why our world is like it is. Do you remember to tell people thank you, tell them what is really in your heart that is special about him or her?
Labels: Barney
posted by Anonymous | 7:56 AM
24 Comments:
That is wonderful. Thanks for leaving that tip and encouragement. Just reading about it encourages me. You're right. A little encouragment does amazing things!!
you are silly.
but you didn't come back.
What a neat story. You made that young man's day and probably will affect him for many days to come.
I used to do a lot of waitressing (serving) jobs. It really did make my day/night when someone left a big tip. If I had ever gotten a note like that, well the note you wrote was fantastic. Maybe he's internet savvy and will find this site to thank-you.
Wonderful!
zardoz says:
Its the illusive
pats on the back
and the likes
which gives us
strength thru
life, .even better
when we ourselves
know that strength and
splurge on all we meet,
BRAVOOOO W.W.
--------------ZARDOZ
A very nice thing to do. I always try to acknowledge others when they make a little extra effort.
A nice tale. A little kindness never hurts. And when you can afford to do even more, that's even better...
Jennifer, I am glad you were encouraged. Thank you. Wyld, thanks for the comment. David, glad you enjoyed it. Jodi, I was kinda hoping he finds the site too. And I was a waitress also. Thanks Zardoz :-) GB, I knew you were the kind who would acknowledge others. Snake, thanks to you too.
While I'm not in a position to triple the tip (YOU are super!), I do take the time to let people know when they are doing an outstanding job, especially in places like restaurants where they usually only get complaints.
It applies to any profession, but having waitressed myself, I know that my workload became much lighter when people said a kind word, gave a sincere smile.
WW, you're starting to make me feel Christmasy!
Come on WW, he was just doing his job. Why a 3x tip? Frankly, I don't even tip unless I get good service. That's a problem in the U.S. we overcompensate for folks doing what they are paid to do anyway. Look at how we overcompensate the CEOs for generally mediocre work. I guess it was good of you to tell him he was "SUPER" but he was probably atonished because he thought he was just doing what he was supposed to do. I always try to do a good job and don't expect it to be recognized. Doing it is more important to me than all the praise in the world. Old Baldy
Mother Goose, I know the wait staff has to appreciate you! Stacy Dawn, you said a mouthful, and it is very true. A kind word goes a long way. FW, I was a waitress too, so I know how it feels to be compensated for a good job. Old Baldy, you bring up an interesting point. Did you know that wait staff is typically paid around $1-2 an hour and everything else is earned via gratuity? They are not salaried; they are not required to be paid minimum wage even. What we give comes back tenfold.
Old Baldy,
WW is right. I remember working at a diner type restarant after high school (93-94) on the night shift.
I made $2.14 an hour from the diner. I had to claim my tips to be taxed every night. I actually recieved a negative paycheck once in where I actually owed my company money.
I averaged about $30 a night on a 9-10 hour shift. (It was a Denny's type place where the average bill was $10). I was one of their best servers and actually later won employee of the month for the casino I served in, so it wasn't my performance that barely paid the rent. It was my patrons at the restaraunt who thought like you did. Every other table I would get a dollar or nothing. $30 x 5 days = $150 a week. My rent was $500/month so you can do the math.
(I ate a lot of 10 cent Ramen noodles in the year 1994)
Just so you know,
Take Care,
Jodi
Jodi, thank you! I appreciate the support. People don't realize how hard it is - being at the public's beck and call, their whims of courteousness or discourteousness, their expectations of their food, its temperature. I remember working my tail off for a table of eight and then almost crying when they left $1. Not to mention the time spent and other potential tables turning.....well, I guess you all can tell MY hot spot. And the point of my post wasn't as much the TIP as it was the fact that this guy obviously had rarely been complimented. And I gathered not just on his waiter technique -- on much of anything.
WW you always seem to try and be nice. You always show people respect when your supposed to. It's a good thing to be a good person. I can say that about you and I don't even know you. It always makes me feel good to read about how you treat others well. It's nice to be touched by others kindness. You keep on doin what yer doin' and everything will be alirght. Keep on making your part of the world a better place. thats what it's really all about isn't it?
What a great idea! I do try to remember to tell people how much I appreciate them. I always thank a waiter for pouring water, etc., instead of treating them like a slave. People (including me) will bloom with a little encouragement and thanks!
Many things can encourage... but a smile mixed with a kind word and you get a reward with a smile paid back. Good on you WW :)
You've created your own sort of "tithe" in the world!
zardoz
dear lauri,
what is tithe?
sorry ww i dont know the word,
---------zardoz
If waitresses(and waiters) don't make the minimum wage then a law should be passed to do so. Why should customers have to pay wages for them? Once I was a cook in a restaurant and along with knife cuts, burns and a hot kitchen I had to listen to the waitresses complaining because the customer didn't like something. Believe me some of those waitresses got lots of tips too but I never saw so much as a penny or even a thank you from them. Let's face it - if the food is lousy, cold, too much salt and the rest of it - nobody would get tipped. Old Baldy
"a law should be passed" ?? Good luck, OB. Society as a whole gets what it deserves--sooner or later. We all live, and are "rewarded" for, the laws of the heart that we are tuned to. WW, you live by a higher law than most. It's great to see, and rewarding to read of.
Thanks,
-a River-Tree Whispers
Oh the joys of extra money you can throw around. I like the whole idea of you having a secret identity, which sort of makes me regret the fact that I write as myself. You have this mysterious existence where you sneak around town leaving money for people and doing good deeds; do you know how cool that sounds? You should make a lycra jumpsuit or something, and emblazen WW on it. Make a logo too.
Old baldy- give it up, dude! no one is going to agree with your don't tip philosophy. I say if you can afford to eat at a restaraunt, you can afford 10% extra for a person bringing your food, otherwise keep to the drive thru places. the point of this post is that the kid DID do a great job and WAS rewarded for it by a human with a heart. WFW - we love your caring spirit. ps Jodi Rocks!
Ardist: you're right. Last winter a guy cut down a poplar in my back yard that was dead. He said he would take it down, cut it up and haul away the limbs, stump, etc. for $50. Well he did it all but taking the stump away. He said he would be back the next day to finish the job. What did I do - I went ahead and gave him the $50 minus $15 I held back until the next day. He never came back. Then two weeks or so later I saw him at a convenince store and asked him about the stump. He said it was too wet and his truck will tear up my yard. I said o.k. Guess what?? Never did show up. So now I am out $35 for a job that was never done. I agree with Ardist, people like him will get what they deserve. My daughter is fixing me turkey day dinner so got to close. I agree with David too. Old Baldy
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