pmosley
Member
My wife and I ran some errands this morning and stopped at an IHOP for breakfast after they were done.
The location we chose has done away with a greeter and replaced it with an automated waitlist sign in via a tablet type device.
Although I am no spring chicken, I am employed as a department leader in a technical field so I navigated the self-serve device quite easily. I watched others enter and struggle and one after the other deferring to their youngest, most often teenagers in their party.
As we sat, I saw a much older gentlemen entering and saw him look at the tablet with bewilderment. I was close so I moved to his side and assisted him with the sign-in. Part of the process required a cellphone so that the system could text when your table was ready. When I asked for his cell number he said he did not have one so I entered mine to complete his entry. I did learn his name was John.
When I received the text that my wife and my table was ready, I went over to John and told him that I would return for him as soon as I received the text. He said that would be far too much trouble for me to which I responded that it would be my honor to assist him.
Shortly after my wife and I were seated, I received a text informing me this table was ready. I returned to the waiting area and accompanied John to the hostess for seating. He thanked me and told me he wished I would let him buy our breakfast. I assured him that was unnecessary and told him that I hoped he enjoyed his breakfast.
Later as my wife and I were finishing up our breakfast, John stopped by our table and said "the world could use more folks like ya'll". In my later years I've become a bit more sentimental and I must say it hit me at my core.
When we finished our breakfast our server came by and started collecting the dishes and silverware. She asked if everything was great to which we responded yes. She said that we were good to go as our tab was taken care of.
John had picked up our meal - I've never had that happen and I was momentarily speechless. I tipped the server $25 and wished her Merry Christmas.
My day was made - picking up the tab, while impactful is not the overall point - it is indeed an honor and privilege to assist folks as a matter of common courtesy and have it appreciated as an act of kindness rather than for it be expected which has become all too common.
I will remember John and his regal response for the rest of my days..........
The location we chose has done away with a greeter and replaced it with an automated waitlist sign in via a tablet type device.
Although I am no spring chicken, I am employed as a department leader in a technical field so I navigated the self-serve device quite easily. I watched others enter and struggle and one after the other deferring to their youngest, most often teenagers in their party.
As we sat, I saw a much older gentlemen entering and saw him look at the tablet with bewilderment. I was close so I moved to his side and assisted him with the sign-in. Part of the process required a cellphone so that the system could text when your table was ready. When I asked for his cell number he said he did not have one so I entered mine to complete his entry. I did learn his name was John.
When I received the text that my wife and my table was ready, I went over to John and told him that I would return for him as soon as I received the text. He said that would be far too much trouble for me to which I responded that it would be my honor to assist him.
Shortly after my wife and I were seated, I received a text informing me this table was ready. I returned to the waiting area and accompanied John to the hostess for seating. He thanked me and told me he wished I would let him buy our breakfast. I assured him that was unnecessary and told him that I hoped he enjoyed his breakfast.
Later as my wife and I were finishing up our breakfast, John stopped by our table and said "the world could use more folks like ya'll". In my later years I've become a bit more sentimental and I must say it hit me at my core.
When we finished our breakfast our server came by and started collecting the dishes and silverware. She asked if everything was great to which we responded yes. She said that we were good to go as our tab was taken care of.
John had picked up our meal - I've never had that happen and I was momentarily speechless. I tipped the server $25 and wished her Merry Christmas.
My day was made - picking up the tab, while impactful is not the overall point - it is indeed an honor and privilege to assist folks as a matter of common courtesy and have it appreciated as an act of kindness rather than for it be expected which has become all too common.
I will remember John and his regal response for the rest of my days..........
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