“In all affairs it's a healthy
thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken
for granted.”
― Bertrand
Russell
This is a small story about a small change in perspective.
It was a Tuesday night, and I had worked late. After work, Larry and I
went to a little diner in town for supper.
This is the kind of diner that still offers service to people who drive
up and wait in their cars for the server to come outside and take their order.
It serves food like hot dogs, hamburgers, Westerns, chuck wagons, fried
bologna sandwiches and breakfast all day.
Seating inside is limited: there are five booths and a counter with
stools lined up in front of it. On the counter are napkin holders and
condiments and a covered cake plate with the cake of the day inside.
When one particular server works, everyone finds out what I ordered,
just as I find out what they ordered because she calls out the food from her written
ticket as she moves towards the kitchen behind the counter: “Two hots and a
fry.” Or “Egg plate over medium with toast.”
Larry and I like eating there.
On this particular Tuesday night, I ordered two hot dogs (I’m eating
meat again for now) and Larry ordered a country ham plate.
I saw another couple come in and sit at the counter, but I didn’t take
note of what they ordered. I did notice her cool tennis shoes with gold sequins
on them. Maybe not something I could necessarily pull off, but they looked good
on her.
Then I heard them ordering something else.
“We saw you carrying one by and thought that looked good,” the woman
said. “We’ll eat it here.”
A few minutes later, the server brought her and her companion a takeout
bag along with two unwrapped hot dogs topped with chili.
“Oh, this is so good,” she said. “We’ve been looking for good hot dogs.”
“Well, now you know where to find them,” the server said. “Where are y’all
from?”
“Atlanta. He’s working up here,” she said, pointing to the man.
A moment later, the woman looked up and said, “This is amazing.”
Amazing? Really? I thought about the hot dogs I’d just eaten. Mustard,
onions, relish. The mustard tasted like it had horseradish in it. The onions
tasted fresh and hot.
I had eaten them automatically, without much appreciation. I was tired
and hungry and just wanted to get the meal over with and go home.
But those hot dogs had been good, I thought. Delicious, in fact. So
tasty and satisfying after a long day.
Yes, they were amazing.
Has your perspective changed lately about something you’ve been taking
for granted?
