Gary and I took a random trip to some Tuscan restaurant up in Salt Lake and immediately felt out of place! I mean, we felt like we fit in with the other customers...you know...you kind of feel welcome when the old lady across the isle from you keeps trying to butt in on your conversation. Who wouldn't feel welcome? But just not with the worker's there. Gary looked nice, fitted jeans, shirt with a hula girl on it... Basically a perfect summer's outfit! I, on the other hand was rockin' the fish-tail braid (done by Gary... Props.), my lace and striped peasant blouse with coordinating colored jeans... Not too bad, not too bad at all. One problem. I wasn't wearing any make-up. See, this wasn't an only occurrence, I NEVER wear make-up in the summer! I never thought anyone would care and especially not treat me badly because of it. I assumed that was the case seeing as everything else was fine about me. Sure, I may have a tendency to look about 4 1/2 years old without make-up... But that is aside the point. One's customer service shouldn't change because of how one looks! Especially when that server is depending on a tip!! Come on now.
This restaurant was definitely something different. We were instructed to find our own seats by the hostess. That was strange. Then it only took about 5 minutes for them to get us menus. Another 15 for water. Then we met our server. She looked us up and down, then again, probably to see what she was getting into. Immediately she left us alone and basically avoided us the rest of the day (we were there for a VERY long time waiting on food and servers...and rating our experience of course). Time after time she would walk past our table asking everyone around us how they were doing...stop to look at us...then keep walking.
Horrible customer service, RIGHT!?
Gary does this thing, he assumes that people are just going through a hard time and that's why they're grumpy or inadequate, so when I would love to cause a scene and take it up with the manager... He simply gives them a large tip as a pick-me-up. Usually.
I'm not sure if it was just how this particular lady was treating us but my self-esteem took a very intense nose-dive to the ground. It was obvious to Gary how I felt. I looked around at all the other people that were getting so much attention, positive attention. I wondered what the heck it could be! Oh, of course. The other ladies that were here were wearing about four inches of make-up on their faces! I'm sure their boyfriends didn't do their hair. And they all had gaudy jewelry on. And heels, not flip-flops. That's must be it. They are actually trying to impress people.
But it is SUMMERTIME for crying out loud!!!
After being there for just over an hour and a half (of straight waiting) she finally comes back with our check. I was thoroughly unimpressed with the whole restaurants service and, for some reason, had lost all confidence in my summer glow. Gary reached into his wallet to pull out a tip when out of jealousy and spite, I'm sure, I took the ONE DOLLAR that he had set aside for her and shoved it into my purse! She did NOT deserve this one dollar! She should just be grateful that I didn't cause a scene about what a bad word she was being!!
I put the dollar bill back, don't worry....
But still, that got me thinking. Were we treated that way because of how we looked? That must be it. I mean, the lady across the isle thought we were great company! This incident... It changes the way I'll look at people from now on.
I was sick with guilt the whole time just remembering back about a year ago when I was working at Dillard's. A couple came into the store about 5 minutes before we closed. I already had one register counted. I was not about to wait for them. They raced up to me as I took my time looking them up and down. The guy was wearing ripped jean shorts with a wife-beater on, ripped tennis shoes, and a very old hoody wrapped around his waist. His (assumed) wife was not looking very much more impressive. I told them that I could not help them with what they were doing and that it was crazy to find one missing shoe in the middle of this large sale AND find the box they go in. I was instructed to not waist my time doing that for anyone. They found it all about 5 minutes after we had closed. Sure it was late and I had already worked a 12 hour shift but that was wrong of me, I shouldn't have given up on them and had them do all the work they did by themselves...especially since they were about the only ones in the whole store. They complained to me about my inability to help. I assured them that everything was okay and basically that they would survive... It was because of the large sale that made everything difficult. They asked to speak to my manager, Dan. And they did. He called me a few minutes later, laughing. He described the couple to me, their anger, and the silly situation. What snobs we were being. After this wondrous guilt-memory had taken me over... And feeling the way I did from the server... I was appalled at my actions and decided to be done. I made a decision right there and then to NEVER treat anyone like they were below me again. And whoever you are, reading this, I urge you to do the same. Fact is, it doesn't matter where we shop, what we eat, how we choose to do our make-up (or not), or how we're dressed while we shop or eat out... We're still all children of Heavenly Father. He loves us just the way we are... And it's about time we learn to all love each other just the same. Thank you all for reading this!
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