This past summer I started working as a waitress. When I first applied to the restaurant I assumed that it would just be a job that paid the bills, but by the end of the summer I had a completely different outlook. I fell in love with serving! Every night I came home with sore feet, a raging headache, and covered in barbecue sauce, and I loved it! But it only took me a few weeks to come to the conclusion that the whole world would be kinder if everyone waited tables for just three months, as I did.
When I started working I was under the impression that most everyone would be understanding and reasonable. BOY, OH BOY WAS I WRONG! For some tables no matter how quickly you refill their drink or how quickly their food comes out of the kitchen or how big your smile is, you're wrong. That's just the way it is. In a perfect world these people would realize that we servers are busting our butts to help them, but they don't. Maybe after a few months serving demanding customers like themselves, they would be more reasonable. Another reason would be that hopefully customers would become more observant. If you go into a restaurant and see a hostess/host stand. STAND AT THE HOSTESS/HOST STAND! You will be seated! Please do not seat yourself unless told otherwise! Nothing is more frustrating that turning around and seeing a table that was just empty is now full of people looking around wondering why they don't have menus. Seriously. STOP DOING THIS!
Aside from all of the frustrations that people would hopefully start to understand if they served for just three measly months, they would see why deep down we love our job. We get to meet people from all walks of life and get to learn life lessons from them. One of my all time favorite server stories is the day that an elderly man reached up, put his hand on my cheek, and told me I reminded him of his late wife. One time a young man came in and I got to comfort him after a bad break up. We get to help people, and learn from people, and there is nothing that makes us happier than that! We get to help make memories for the customers that sit in our sections, and we love it.
I love my job as a server, a lot. As stressful and demanding as serving is, it is a job that I am so proud that I have experienced. If you get the chance to go out with your families and friends over this holiday season be sure to tip your server and to thank them for the memories that they have helped you to make. They will appreciate it. Trust me.
