I got written up at my serving job last week. It sucks because my shifts got cut, so I panic-applied on Indeed. I was editing my resume.“I’m a friendly, highly enthusiastic professional with eight years of experience in customer service.” I friendly? Yes, I am. Am I highly enthusiastic? Not right now, to be honest. Right now I’m feeling very overwhelmed by existence. Professional? It depends on the table. Eight years. I’ve been doing this for eight years. Another wave of panic hits. I make myself hashbrowns at 3 a.m. to calm down.
What I love about the service industry is that every day truly is different. you never know what you’re walking into. Whether you’ll meet the angels or the demons that roam earth. Sometimes I’m the angel who makes someone’s day, sometimes I’m the demon who completely neglects someone and forgets their beer or takes their order too slowly. Both are valid. I try not to take it too personally, because I’ve been there. I get hangry too.
But I do take it personally. It affects me deeply when people send in bad reviews. And when I get in trouble, or when I’m told to do a better job while I’m already doing the best I can. it stings a little.
So to the people who have the luxury of time and energy to write a review. I cheers to you. I have so much love and gratitude for you. But before you write one, just remember that your review has a ripple effect. Make sure it’s kind, even if it’s critical. Maybe ask ChatGPT to soften the edges a little and make it sound nicer while still getting the point across. But to those who leave love notes on yelp or google, I hope you get everything you want out of this life and more.
Restaurants are a crash course in humanity. You see the best and the worst, often in the same five minute window, kindness, cruelty, brilliance, despair. I think anthropology grads should do their co op hours in restaurants. there’s no better study of human behavior.
Since I dont work till Saturday, I have some free time to dilly dally again.
This server billfold has been with me for eight years. It’s held everything from fat stacks of cash, to crumpled single bills, receipts with nice tips and receipts with no tips . I’ve carried it with me through four different restaurants. I once accidentally threw it out, thinking it was a plate. It's been with me through every sorry for the wait, can grab you anything else, kitchen may I? can you please switch cut times with me, can you please close for me, moment of my serving career.
Inside, in a secret pocket I’ve kept the sweetest little things, notes, doodles and some other things that made a shift special.
The Billfold
I found this at a thrift store. It’s technically not a billfold, but I call it that because it’s shaped like one
Drawings
One’s from a 10 year old. The other’s from someone in their late 20s or early 30s. I won’t tell you which is which.
A Million-Dollar Tip
One time I got tipped a million dollars.I still have it to this day because I’m great at saving.
Book recommendation
A book
i asked what he was reading, he goes, here its for you, read it, when your done give it to your coworker with the brown hair. I haven't read it yet,I’ve asked every brown haired coworker if they recognize it, even the ones who have gone blonde to brunette to blonde to brunette have no idea. The book’s a mystery… and so is he.
Business Cards
The people who’ve left me their cards.
Wendi, who talked about houses, shes also a doula.
Pat, who shared her jewelry stories, told me I was a one of a kind jewel on Earth. But we all are. I liked the flattery so much, I kept her business card. I even told her that if I ever get married, the ceremony would be my partner and me making our own rings while drunk. She laughed and said, sounds fun, count me in. Mona, who listened to me talk about this brand. Maria, who loves yoga as much as I do.Jeff, who reminded me to save more and to start a business bank account
The Newspaper Man
One time this sweet old man was reading a newspaper. I work at a pub no one reads newspapers there. I told him it was refreshing to see. He asked “Why, because I’m old?”
I said, Yep. When he left, he handed this to me, a thank you for making him laugh.
He said he wanted to make me laugh back.
Phone Numbers
Reg and Shanna, they own horses. I told them that one day I want to do a photoshoot with horses for this brand. I know nothing about horses. Denise i forget who she is, or why I kept her number. Just one of those once in a lifetime connections when you are serving a table. Real in the moment, gone the second I drop the bill. You hope to see them again, but you never do. Should i text her?
Angel Numbers
Because it’s good to be reminded you’re on the right path.
333, 888, 1111, 444 little signs like that is sweet. Even when the bill is $200 and the tip is $5.55 at least it’s an angel number. At least it’s something.
The Unicorn & a poem behind it
Theresa was sitting with a glass of wine, drawing. I told her how beautiful her sketch looked. She said, “It’s just the outline, it’s not finished yet.”
I said “I know, and as someone who can only draw when I’m tracing, I appreciate an outline.” She asked “Would you like me to draw you a unicorn?” I said yes. because who says no to that? What I love most is that she accidentally drew it on the back of a poem she’d just written.I thanked her for both, the drawing and the words. The poem said everything I’d been struggling to express. she was joined by a sweet girl named Marissa who read my birth chart. She’s now part of my women’s circle. We meet every Tuesday.
“Oh, to make companions of the thoughts we call demons.”
“Shrinking no more away from the self-inflicted darkness, soft and comforting as sleep.”
“Would you become that which you fear, or that which you love?”
Painting on a board
This is from the sweetest couple, Helen painted it for me. they have been together for 50 years 50!!! I texted them last week to say I was thinking of them and asked if they’re escaping the Alberta deep freeze for Victoria’s tropical winter.i haven't heard from them yet. Maybe i should also email them, before i jump to conclusions.
Neigborhoods in Mexico City.
She was a guest I was serving, from Mexico City. Before she left, she handed me this list Condesa, La Roma, Zona Rosa, Coyoacán and said I’d love them. Maybe one day I’ll see why.
To the industry that built me up and broke me down, that fed me and drained me, thank you. for better or worse, you’ve shaped me.