Reflections on the art of slinging hash

Lat night was my last night at the Olive Garden. I am now officially retired from the restaurant biz. I'm done and will never, ever, work in food service again. Hmmm, sounds like I've heard that line before. Oh yeah! I said it twice before, the last time being when I left Salvaggio's. Of course Katrina messed up my cushy warehouse gig and sent me to the OG. But this time things are different. I start my student teaching on Monday and should be able to parlay(sp.?) that into a teaching job come January. If not then I'll work as a substitute until I land a gig. So let's recap the places I have worked(food related) and in chronological order. I will give dates to the best of my recollection.
1.1997-98 Johnny Rays BBQ, Oh how I miss the chocolate pie and delivering catering orders in the pig van
2. 1998-2000 Olive Garden, Tuscaloosa. This was also the only time in which I have ever been "terminated" from a job. it's true, I got fired(long story-not my fault).
3.2000-2001. Alabama Grille, Tuscaloosa. I liked eating there but working there was terrible. on the bright side, they had awesome homemade cake and it was in walking distance from my apartment.
4. 2001-2002(maybe 2003) Lone star Steakhouse, Tuscaloosa. These fools actually let me be a manager.
5. 2004 Salvaggios, Slidell, La.-Best thing about this place was that it got destroyed by hurricane katrina. I know that seems like a really mean thing to say but the boss (not mr. phil) was a complete jackass. I have never in my life wanted something bad to happen to a person. I take that back, this was the one time.
6. 2006 Olive Garden, Slidell. I will give them a pass because I worked there when they re-opened after the hurricane and things were crazy everywhere. But, there were some really nice and memorable characters there, as well as some complete DA's.
7. 2006-2007 Olive Garden, Baton Rouge. By far, my favorite restaurant experience and I credit that to my co-workers, you guys (remember the time I got yelled at for saying "you guys" on my first day?) made it tolerable and sometimes even fun to come to work. I will not miss the job at all but I will miss the lovable band of characters who I proudly call friends. I also give credit to the management team. The group at the BR-OG is the best management team I have ever worked around. I I must give special mention to the general manager, Lorin Bray. Mr. Bray was the best manager I have ever worked for, with, or around. It was my honor, and I do mean honor, to call him "boss".
I have spent a good amount of time in the biz and have seen and heard a lot of things. But as I am in a reflective mood I would rather relate to you what I have learned rather than just random anecdotes.
One of the things I have learned is that it is much better to listen than to talk. Those who know me know that I can be the center of attention, but I have learned that it is a better idea to put the spotlight on others, to make them feel like they are the most important person in the room. That is how you develop relationships, and get fat tips.
I have also learned that if someone tells you that you are the best server they have ever had, it really means that they gave you a crappy tip. The verbal tip is the sign of monetary death.
Probably the thing that I have taken away from my food service experience more than anything else is that nothing beats a smile, a joke, and eye contact. In all of my years of services I had one customer complaint. Yes, only one. And I got that when I dropped a glass of ice on a little kid. Oddly enough, the parents didn't mind at all but a guy eating with the family felt that we should buy the entire meal for the entire table(by the way, the kid was not injured and by the end of the meal he had become my "little buddy"). Some people will use any opportunity to get something for nothing.
To those of you who work in the biz, remember that the people at your table or at your bar pay your bills. Be nice, try to make their day a little better, hopefully they will help make yours better.
to those of you who are sitting at the table or bar, remember that you help to pay your server/bartenders bills. If you leave nothing-they make nothing. servers make $2.13 an hour and due to the way taxes are set up they typically get a voided paycheck each week. That means zero dollars of hourly wage. They live on what you leave. Many of them are working their way through college on this money, some are single parents trying to raise a family on this money, the list goes on and on.
The point to all of this is just to say that I'm glad it's over for me. I look forward to being the one doing the eating for a change.

Although I do not remember all the names and faces, I just wanted to say thanks to all of you who helped by my bills and tuition. And, to all of you who fought with me on the front line, you will always be in my heart. Always.