I. Love. My. Job.

Just a few weeks ago, I never would have said that.  It's amazing how quickly you can grow and improve when you really challenge yourself and work hard.  I never would have imagined myself as a waitress, someone who has to talk to dozens of strangers all day long.  In fact, when I was hired for this job, I thought, "Who am I kidding? I'm shy. I can't do this."  But then, I realized that the only way to overcome my fears and struggles with shyness is to put myself in uncomfortable and challenging situations, just like this, and really push myself outside of my usual element. 



Look at these fun and semi-inappropro shirts I get to wear



And it's been so rewarding!  Seriously, this job is a blast.  I'll be honest. The first couple weeks, training and serving for the very first time, were brutal.  There were several nights where it seemed I would mess every little thing up, from forgetting someone's drink, to being really slow getting people's checks out to them because I was having trouble with the computer, to messing up an order.  Nights like those I would come home exhausted, physically, but mostly emotionally, and just cry.  But like Kelly Clarkson says, what didn't kill me made me stronger.  Even in just a few short weeks I've felt myself stretch and grow and become so much more comfortable and confident talking to people I've never met.  It feels great.  And what's more, I've made lots of  unlikely friends  by getting to know my awesome coworkers, am having a blast, and making money.  It doesn't get much better than that. 



                                                       

                                     I'm learning all the tricks of the trade...like writing your table numbers on your wrist

 I think greatest of all though, is that this is exactly the kind of experience I need to be having as I'm preparing to go on a mission. Seriously. Can we say blessing? And, let's not forget thefun stories that come along with waitressing either....

The other day one of the cooks, the one that looks like Napoleon Dynamite, came out from the back during a slow time with a bag in his hand.  He looked at me with squinty eyes and said in a real slow voice , "Hey...wanna try one of these suckers I made?" and proceeded to hand me this:

 Ummmm....what? So I was like, "Oh, um thanks? What's in it?", to which he replied, "Oh, it's just like sugar and cherry flavoring and stuff." At this point I'm thinking, what kind of "stuff"...this looks pretty sketch. But before I could ask for further information he handed me this card and said, "Here's my card. It doesn't have any of my information on it. But if you want my phone number....I can give it to you..." Then he chuckled and walked away. 

  I'm still not sure what exactly was in those suckers, but I saw one of my coworkers eat one and she didn't pass out or anything, so it probably wasn't drugs or poison...  Never a dull moment in the serving industry.  THAT's for sure.