Merry Death

Tossed Salad

Phil, Vivienne and I went out to Chili's for dinner last night. Its one of those Tex Mex chain restaurants. We sat down, ordered drinks and perused the menu. As someone passed me with a huge tray of food, a fajita fixins plate dumped all down my back. Meh, no big deal. I brushed the tomatoes out from under my ass, wiped the guacamole off my shirts, sat on a clean towel to dry the tomato juice and went on with my meal.

Meanwhile, the manager on duty, person who spilled and the waitress are falling all over themselves to apologize and help me. I was promptly rewarded with the lady next to me saying "Now, THAT'S a tossed salad"...snark snark snark. Stupid bitch.

So, I was given a glass of soda water (to clean my jeans and cotton tee shirt - which I promptly sent back and only kept the towels), hand wipes and a stack of napkins. I used them all, thanked the manager on his 3rd trip back to check "One more time and make sure I was OK".

You have to realize, I was fine. I have worked in restaurants for 10 years off and on. I have seen people become IRATE because someone accidentally spilled a glass of water, a french fry, or a plate of food on them. Even if it was a minor, true accident, I have watched people belittle and berate many a server and bartender. Its just not for me.

I chose at that moment to say "Hey, Its no big deal, it happens". I brushed myself off, helped clean off the table, told everyone to calm down and stop falling all over me. Do you know what happened? The manager gave us the meal free, on the house. He said, "Your meal is on us. Not because someone spilled food, but because I have never had anyone act as gracious as you have in that situation."

posted by Metalmeredith @ 4:36 PM