observations.

how i wish every day could be filled with reflective moments such as yesterday, but that is not reality. however, in retrospect, i made some observations...

humility.
i made a mistake with a customer's order (i undercooked a piece of fried fish - fryer was up too high, browned too quickly, inside stayed, uhhhh, too cool? [undercooked]) and it was sent back. before i could *right the wrong*, he sent word in he wanted something entirely different. i'm still relatively new at this folks - i've never had anything sent back that i couldn't correct and another order placed entirely and when my server asked what he should do? i said "i'll make it for him, but he'll have to pay for this," (not really thinking it through). no sooner did my server leave the kitchen to tell him, i called my husband at home for confirmation; husband said "make the wrap, take it on the chin, things are the way they are..."

customer is now not only irate and angry at my server (and me, really) that he starts screaming in the dining room full of other people - i ran out and said "gee, i am sorry, we are going to make it right..." by now, he was on a good rant and i while calmly trying to apologize and set it right for him, he said "i was trying to do you a favor by being discreet - but no - now, you are charging me for something that didn't smell good, didn't taste good and this is how you return a FAVOR???" i said, "where's the favor now, C?" and turned and walked back into my kitchen as he was on his way out my door saying he'll never "eat here again.............."

even though i was mortified at the entire event, i didn't let his insults get to me me in front of my other customers and i maintained my composure.

obedience.
my neighbor has been going through chemotherapy treatments. it occured to me thursday on the way to bible study that i hadn't seen him outside lately and i called his wife to see how things were going; no answer. i called hub at work and said "bring home some chicken soup for next door. i have a wierd feeling about things," and he did. he delivered it, said everything seemed fine, and we had dinner.

no sooner had i walked in the door yesterday, neighbor's daughter called me, crying. 20 minutes prior, she explained, her dad passed away...


missing.
my cat simon got out. he's gotten out only one other time before and was missing for three days prior to coming home. we love simon, whose full name is, of course, Simon Peter. he was a rescue from the shelter and had been found under the boardwalk in atlantic city, so i figured he was a fisherman at heart, but i digress.

i have faith God will send him back home to my family. tomorrow, pictures will be posted around the 'hood in an effort to help him find his way home. please see sidebar for authentic moment with dd and simon, the most noble kitty, observering the ritual known as filling the Easter eggs for the cousins. he was the site manager during the event.

lost.
when my daughter came home from school dance last night, she and her friends told us the only excitement at said function was two eighth grade boys arrived intoxicated.

as it turns out, one of the two had been one of my students who had received confirmation a week ago monday.

i am sick at heart.