Sunday, February 21, 2010

My Waiter


Feb 20th 2010

My Waiter

Not all waiters are any good here. Some are efficient, some useless, some attentive. But there is one who transcends them all. I call him my waiter. Miguelle. The waiter I had on the first night.

Didn’t get him tonight, however, but sat adjacent to his section. That gave me a chance to watch him in action.

He is shorter than me, less round and has a flat face that looks like it’s been hammered in with a frying pan. He walks with a funny, side-to-said waddle, his head back, his arms swinging, like a man on a good stroll along his favourite path.

He takes the arms of women who come in unattended. Older women, often in twos. He links his arms through theirs, says flattering things about how they look, their nice hair, their shoes, then escorts them to their table, whispers something special to one of them, who giggles and then he promises them both he will look after them. “Like Queens!” he says.

He talks to everyone, always with a big smile on his face. He teases Pappie about not eating enough. He jokes with another couple that mexico has yet to win a gold in the Vancouver. He pats shoulders, whisks plates away as soon as they are finished and pokes fun at the cooks who stand too seriously behind their dishes.

But is he genuine?

Had to tell but one hint is what happens to his face when he walks away. Is it all a mask, clown make-up to be washed away at night? Or is he really a guy who loves his job, who loves people, who even loves tourists? (personally, having worked with the public, I cannot believe the last thing.)

I watched him for a while. If anything, his smile grew bigger when he left a table laughing or if someone teased him back. When the older ladies went to leave, they stopped him and gave him a big hug and he thanked them for coming. He hustles like no other waiter there to make sure drinks are always filled, requests met, expectations exceeded. All for tips? Maybe. I know I tipped him well on the first night.

But I know Margot would have believed him to be a real person who actually loves his job. Margot was the same in many ways, walking around with a big smile genuinely happy to help people. So is it so hard to believe that there are others out there like her?

(I will try to get a picture but I will have to overcome my Canadian-ness about seeming to be rude).

(Ok picture posted, from today, feb 23rd, the outdoor BBQ)

2 comments:

  1. sounds like he genuinely loves what he does...

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  2. Yes, there are people like Miguelle. Happy to be him & making others around him happy.

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