All Thanks to Wait Staff

We're living through our fifth year here at the cafe, and as Christmas is fast approaching, I feel a sudden and whole-heart gratitude to our wait staff over the years.  The food is only a part of the experience here.  The kids who have come to work and stayed as family, have been the blessing.  Certainly. 

My niece Laura came first, for a work summer imposed by my brother.  She was involved in adolescent shenanigans so he thought a summer of washing dishes would do her good.  She worked for tips and though she showed up here looking like Paris Hilton, she learned really fast what parsley looks like, how to mince garlic, and that she sure the heck better RUN when I call for eggs! 

Irma, from Lithuania, was dazzled by free soft drink refills, and in agony when people commented on the food and she didn't know the word---"oh no! What does fantastic mean?!!" 

Stephanie was a powerhouse!  She ran everywhere and cleaned fruit like her life depended on it.  She left us to work on a mission in Africa, and I imagine she's somewhere now digging wells by hand. 

Hannah was by far, our best dishwasher.  She was shy to wait tables, but I was glad she was in the dish room.  I have a special place in my heart for her, sweet girl, for her honor to a menial task. 

Kaitlyn worked for the summer between her first and second year of school at Notre Dame.  She really liked to be in the kitchen best, and was a helpful companion through the hectic days.  When she went back to school, she was elated to see chicken paprikas on a menu, but devastated that it wasn't made the right way---like ours, of course!  She brightens my days when she is home for a holiday and swoops into the kitchen to surprise me with a hug.  I warm up some paprikas for her breakfast.

Rachel, Ashley, and Hailey were only here for short times, but each contributed their special charms to the team with unquestioning loyalty.  They delight me with occasional visits. 

Megan spent a few years, but finally had to slow down---three jobs was one to many.  She'll be back though, I know!  Many times, she replaced me in the kitchen so that I could take my grandsons skiing and camping.  She made it possible for me to have some fun with them that I'll never have the chance for again, and I'm grateful to her forever.

There have only been two boys, Justin and Stewart.  Both of them came to breakfast and stayed! They've patiently endured the customer jokes about them working at "Daughters." Justin is hurt when I say that Hannah has been our best dishwasher, because he is a rockstar dishwasher too!  He cuts fruit just the way I want it---no wacky variation.  His sense of detail and his attention to the customers, his sympathy for the kitchen and his flexibility to be exactly where I need him at all times, is why he is unquestionably family. 

The first time I saw Stewart, he was standing in the kitchen door, asking me for a shovel!  Oh gosh.  A hawk dropped a squirrel into the pine tree and hadn't been able to recover it.  It had been in the tree...for a good long time.  On a busy Saturday morning, with the patio full of breakfast diners, the squirrel had finally dislodged and dropped to the patio! Stewart rose from his breakfast and made for the kitchen.  He dealt with the sad little carcass and stayed for a few years.  He is the fourth of four boys and was raised by a mom so affectionate, so loving, that he dotes on all moms.  I have been the grateful recipient of his kind attention and can always count on him to know when I'm in trouble in the kitchen.  Though he's busy with his customers, he always checks on me and catches me up.  Really, really the most adorable boy!

All of these sweet kids, and a little army of stand-ins, have made it possible for me to turn my full attention to the kitchen over these years.  My daughter Bianca has orchestrated everyone out there so that they've pitched in to help each other, they've shared their tips, they've socialized together, they've generously and unselfishly supported the universe that is our cafe.  People compliment me all the time on the nice help that I have here.  Really, I have had nothing to do with them being such nice people, I am only so grateful to know them!  Their role in our party here has been the greatest blessing. 

Merry Christmas.
Love, Barb