I’m doing a triple double. Yesterday, I was at the office at 7am so I could be at the restaurant at 3:45pm. I got home circa 10:25pm. I went to bed so I could get up and do it all again today… and tomorrow.
I’ve requested *an* evening shift for awhile. I’ve always told Franco that I don’t want to get one at the expense of another server. I use my tips for my adventure fund. My full-time job pays for my survival. For others, the restaurant is their rent money. I try to contain my inner cash whore so my desire’s fulfillment doesn’t become someone else’s woe.
I checked the schedule on Sunday. I never do that because it never changes. It did. I was down for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. I was excited and panicked at the same time. The prospect both titillated and exhausted me. A couple servers are on vacation and the shifts needed to be covered. I, of course, knew I had to do it. If I ask for something repeatedly and someone gives me something in abundance and I want it to happen again more frequently, then I must do it. No brainer.
Usually, I’d handle this balanced with some vacation hours at my full-time gig. Unfortunately but mostly fortunately, I have a trip coming up so I need to horde those hours. My work schedule is going to require 15+ hour days for these three days.
When I returned to serving eight years ago after a decade hiatus, my body balked at the physical demand. I would do fine during the shift but I would rearrange the next 24-hour period for minimal movement. I let my body heal. Well, I’m used to it now. I know the aches go away. The blisters pop. Last night was a four band-aid shift.
I’m not complaining. The cash is great! Last night, I had three groups tip me in excess of 30%. Brunch tippers are a little tighter with their money. They never remember how much coffee they drank at $2.50. Where dinner folks enjoy a fine bottle of wine and friendly service on a higher level $$$. The dinner pace is also much less demanding. It’s not about ‘churn and burn the table.‘ It’s quality over quantity. They savor their experience. They are a gentler customer
I even had a guy say to me “you weren’t even born in 1963.”
I responded, “Actually, I was born in 1963.”
He exclaimed, “Yeah, right?! Like you’d ever pass for fifty.”
I just smiled. I know the customer is always right. My tip depends on it.