It's The Little Things

Wow...just been so caught up in all of the Bloggy Giveaway and putting the "Big Sale" together that the past couple of days have just slipped away. So many entries and so much neat stuff to choose from on the main site...if you haven't visited, visit. And if you haven't entered, enter. Hmphf!!

While ramblings about my continued discovery of finding things I'd forgotten I had..hence, the "Big Sale"...I did take a break with The Daughter and head out to one of our most favorite places...

We both ordered the same thing...Frisco Melt... and statred to get down to business. Business?? Yep...PWB...People Watchin' Business. There is tons of fun and lots to be learned in this business and a Steak 'n Shake is a great place to people watch. Why do 2 people sit together at the counter instead of a small booth..or table?

Anyway...as we sat and waited for our yummy lunch we noticed a very hard working young man clearing tables and wiping everything clean. We also noticed that he had Down's Syndrome. He had a special way of clearing...dishes stacked, then flatware and then glasses. He wiped every table in a clockwise motion, in the center of the table and then did the sides, and then he took a different cloth and wiped out the seats...every time. His name tag said "Daniel".

Once our food came, we got more interested in eating and discussing whether or not to have a Brownie Sundae (I didn't need to discuss this, The Daughter did...to me it was a given). Daniel cleared a couple of tables around us and you could see him glancing at the people in the booth beside him and try to give them a smile and maybe be a part of their world for a few seconds. We didn't see anyone acknowledge him with a head nod or a tiny smile. Nothing.

When we finally finished...and yes, there was a Brownie Sundae involved...The Daughter announces "I've got lots of 1's so I'll leave the tip". Sounds good to me. Now, she has worked in the retail industry for quite a while and several of her friends are in the food service industry ie: servers, bartenders, hostessing etc..so she knows all about splitting tips and sharing tips with the people who just clear the tables. Her idea was to leave an extra big tip for the server, since they must "tip out" the other workers. But then, what if they have a completely different system and you leave the extra money and it doesn't get to the right place? Are you following me here?

It was decided to leave the usual 20%...I feel like servers have a very difficult job...and just give the extra $$ directly to Daniel. As I went to take care of the bill, she waited for him to head over to our table and he finally headed our way:

TD: "Hi Daniel. This is for you." (hands him the extra $3)

Daniel: "For me?"

TD: "Yea...you have been working so hard, doing a great job and I know you are going to clean our table , too.

Daniel:"This money is for me?"

TD: "Sure...thanks for doing such a great job. Have a great day."

Daniel: "I have some money just for me!" (Running over to the Head Server) "Look!!! Money just for me!!" "For Me!!"

Now, it took longer to post this than it did to actually do it, so for all of 20-30 seconds, this guy Daniel was a part of the world that he looks in on every day. He seemed to be in such amazement and so very excited that we are guessing it hadn't ever happened to him before.

So, that's the story. Random Act Of Kindess. Pay It Forward. Do Unto Others. Whatever...take 20-30 seconds to make a difference in someone's life. Go. Do it.