I tend to listen to talk radio in the car. I know, I know...I'm a musician so you'd expect me to listen to music. Well, I need to get away from music now and then, so I listen to talk radio in the car. Something I was listening to today served as a memory trigger for a random exchange I had a few years ago. It wasn't at all a bad conversation, but I wish the circumstance prompting it never existed. Let me explain.
It occurred during the year I was volunteering as music teacher at Imagine Schools on Broadway, so I was extremely busy and ended up grabbing quick meals out on my busiest days. There were a few days a week where I would eat a late supper at the McDonald's on Stellhorn. This was also the period I was going without internet at home, so I also sometimes went at the end of the day simply to use internet since all other convenient options for public Wi-Fi were already closed. The employees got used to seeing me on a regular basis, and I got a good idea about their work habits.
During this period, most of the employees at this McDonald's were not exactly hardworking. There were times I would be there after 10pm, be the only one in the store, and have to wait a significant amount of time for the person who was supposed to be working cashier to come take my order, and then wait much longer than it should have taken for my food to be ready. It was quite ridiculous, but I practiced my patience, didn't complain, and always simply thanked them when I received my order. However, I quietly noticed at least two employees who actually did their job.
One day, I was using a coupon at Arby's to get a quick meal when a teenage girl who was one of the hardworking McDonald's employees walks in with her family.
"Cheating on McDonald's?" she joked as she recognized me.
I don't remember all of the specifics of the short conversation, but we explained to her mom that I was a regular customer during her shifts at McDonald's. I knew she was annoyed at her coworkers from watching them work, so I took this opportunity to tell the girl that I noticed and appreciated how she went about her work, that she stood out from her coworkers as a result, and thanked her for her efforts.
I remember the proud mom moment that occurred after I did this. I'm pretty sure the mom wasn't expecting someone who was essentially a stranger to compliment her daughter on her work at McDonald's while out getting a meal at Arby's. It was an interesting spontaneous experience to be a part of.
If all of the employees had been doing their jobs like I wish they would have, I'm not sure the above exchange would have happened. I don't know if I would still have made a point to thank her then and there and make sure she knew her work was appreciated. That could be a whole different discussion on thankfulness. Regardless, I do know that I still remember this random interaction a few years later. I remember the girl who did a good job even when alone in doing so, and the mom proud of her daughter as a result.
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