Summer Skies and Stars Are Falling

Everyone knows that time is money, but few keep that in mind when it really matters. Take as an example this week. Out of all the fifty two weeks in a year, this one’s definitely in the top ten. That is worth some money, when you stop and think about it. Its the beginning of summer; the season of sun and fun is all in front of us. There will be fireworks popping off in the night to remind us of the fourth of July. Many people will take their vacations.

Kristi, the GM at the East Coast for the past three years, worked her last shift Monday night. Her husband, mother and father, and the woman who was GM for the nine years before Kristi, all ate dinner together to celebrate her accomplishments, and I waited on them. The previous GM, Maureen, who was Kristi’s mentor in a way (she hired and trained her to be the successor) had not been back in the restaurant since HER final shift. I had always dreamed of waiting on her, and this proved no disappointment. Maureen watched all the moves I made with eagle eyes, and in the end, offered me praise.

As a professional server, the opportunity to wait on two East Coast general managers, together, was an honor. It felt right for Kristi’s last night in that the circuit was complete; the teacher and student were back at the same table, each with a plate of panko-fried yellowfin on a bed of noodles. The chickens of the sea had come home to roost. As the night went on, dinner was cleared and other friends and employees arrived to say thank you to Kristi for her hard work, and to wish her well in her future endeavors.

This Friday is the fourth, and the restaurant will be closed for the employee party. I’m going to try to keep in mind how valuable this time is now in America… the beautiful, warm weather, the longer hours of sunlight, good health, friends, and explosions high in the sky. And I am going to think about the good chunk of time Kristi gave us for less than optimum pay, how she kept her mind open, managed us and the restaurant well, and I’m going to try to find a way to say thank you.