The last receipt.
Every Thursday afternoon I have a ukulele lesson. Learning anything, especially music, requires a lot of repetition so it’s fitting that after each lesson I call the same restaurant and place a to-go order. Even more fittingly it’s almost always Taylor who answers the phone, and, after several months of repetition, she and I often laugh at the fact that I order the same thing every time.
The last time, though, was different. After my lesson I called the restaurant and Taylor answered with, “Hi, Chris! I’m ready so go ahead with your order.” They’d added some new menu items my wife wanted to try so what I asked for was completely different. And I added a piece of cake. Taylor, who’s occasionally suggested I change my routine, said, “This is the single greatest order I’ve ever gotten.”
I was laughing all the way to the restaurant but when I went in to pay and pick up my food Taylor told me it was her last week. She’d enjoyed living in Nashville, she said, but she had three kids and decided it was time to move back to the small town in Pennsylvania where she grew up. She wanted to be closer to her family who could provide support and she also wanted her kids to have a childhood similar to hers.
It was the longest conversation we’ve ever had and it didn’t last five minutes. I wasn’t in any hurry—the food could wait—but she had work to get to, and, having worked in a restaurant myself, I know there’s never a lot of downtime. She was also in the middle of training her replacement which meant she had even less time. We’ve had other brief conversations before. One night I told her I was such a regular customer because I was learning the ukulele and she said, “Oh, it’s really good to take up a new hobby late in life.” I smiled and said, “Yeah,” and I was on my way home before I thought, How old does she think I am?
It’s a bit like going from one song to another: a lot of notes will be the same but the tune will be different. Thank you for all you did, Taylor, and good luck.
Lovely story Christopher! Big fan of repetition myself. So gratifying to connect with people like that innit? Especially strangers, good reminder we’re not that strange after all.
Thank you, Bill, and it is gratifying to connect with people. I’m grateful for any connection, whether virtual or in-person, and, you’re absolutely right, these connections are a reminder that we’re not so strange after all.
I enjoyed this! Best wishes to Taylor and great job switching up your food routine! By the way, I have a uke and I’m still learning to play–after several years, lol. “How old does she think I am?” I giggled.
My wife and I gave Taylor a farewell card and a gift card tucked inside it. Funny enough I thought she might find that strange but it seemed like a lot of people were dropping in to say goodbye to her, which says a lot about how appreciated she was in that job. And I can also say her replacement is doing a good job.
It’s also funny to me how many people either play the uke or just have one and are learning to play it. Ukulele players are everywhere!
I love the way you put notes together, Chris.
I’m happy to add that my wife and I gave Taylor a farewell card and a small gift to show our appreciation. And also happy to add that her replacement is doing a great job too.