People talk about summer as early as September, when the realization hits that it is officially over -and school (or whatever else) has taken its relentless grip yet again. Everyone starts talking in that longing tone of voice -the kind you use when you're talking about being homesick or when you weren't single.
As the weather cools, plans for summer began to heat up, and everyone shares their ideas about how to make the next summer better than the last. Some lament the fact that they will have to work, others get a devilish grin when they pull out the tickets they have already purchased for some escapade abroad.
I had plenty of plans for my summer this year too, most of which involved a lot of money that I never had. I wanted to travel soooo much, and talked about going to D.C. (where I've never been), or visiting friends in Atlanta (a truly other-world experience). But as my wallet yanked my dreams back from cross-country get-aways into the cold, hard touch of reality, I slowly lost my wanderlust and focused on getting a job.
I had needed a car for quite awhile -and as it had officially failed to drop in my lap- I found myself afloat in the unfamiliar sea of the minimum-wage worker. Having forsaken a cush office job for a semester of 21 units, I now discovered that I would have to return to square one of the job market. After a series of interviews, I landed a two-part job as a hostess and cashier at a local Marie Callendar's restaurant.
I had never worked in a restaurant before, but immediately fell in love with the craziness of all the new sights and sounds that come along with having 30+ co-workers, and an innumerable amount of kaleidescope customers.
Having been a frequent customer before (to buy their delicious pies), I now found myself behind the counter putting the final touches (e.g. lots of whipped cream), on the desserts I had previously devoured without thought. I spent more hours studying the menu then I did studying for a test in school, and experienced double the stress over it. I desperately tried to recall my limited junior-high Spanish, so as to not get things lost in translation with all of the Hispanic guys that worked in the back. (Limes not Lemons, Peaches not Strawberries....)
I learned that I had no knowledge of gravity and balance (evidenced by my first trip delivering drinks to a table), and that damn! Those plates really are hot! I learned that customers are the most demanding people on the face of the planet, and are also the most creative. Who knew that a BLT could also have cucumbers, mustard instead of mayo, jack not cheddar, brussel sprouts, spinach, olives, and oh, make sure the bacon isn't too crispy?
Then there are the moments when two guys decide to fight outside, and the loser comes stumbling in with a bloody nose and you have to call the ambulance. Or when the customer you just sat thinks you're their waitress, sends you running all over the place, doesn't leave a tip, and steals a bottle of wine.
It's the moments when six parties of eight walk in at the same time, and there's only three servers on and you have to figure out how, where, and when they're going to sit down. It's learning which wines go best with certain foods, when you're under-age and have no idea what the difference is between a chardonnay and a sauvignon blanc.
But after the conversation with the mentally-ill lady who is describing how she was left for dead on the side of the highway-twice, after the busboy has copped a feel one to many times, and your manager gets on you for not filling the paper towels in the bathroom, -yes after all this you can sit back with that cornbread you swiped from the back, put your feet up, and say "Isn't this a blast?"
So, my summer was spent making new friends, working long hours, eating way too much pie, and all the while having the time of my life. The last week of work was bittersweet, but I did drive to my last shift in my new car :).
What did you do this summer?
