SERVICE!

     There was plenty to do this morning. Doug and I made 25 meat-sandwich lunches, 25 PBJ sacks, and 12 breakfast sacks. No small task. For lunch, we had donated BBQ and coleslaw from an excellent restaurant. He dropped several baskets of fries, and everyone was well fed.
     From my place at the serving counter, as I rushed to keep up with demand, I saw Fancy Lady approaching. She never wants exactly what we're serving; hers must be tweaked. Long before she reached the counter, she raised her voice to ask what kind of meat was in the sandwich. I said I didn't know. Then she asked if it was beef. I said I thought it was pork. Then she said she'd take one, but no fries. That was at 12:10 (we begin serving at 12:00). Lunch is OVER at 12:30, but people often stay in the dining room to chat afterward. They are allowed to stay because Doug is kind to them, and for no other reason. Back in the day, those doors were closed and locked at the end of eating time.
     The kids from the hotel across the street came in at 11:55, plus Hottie called to chat right about then. Doug spoke with him, then asked me to fill in. Apparently, Hottie was missing us this morning and completely forgot how busy we are at noon. But I'd never discourage him from staying in touch.
     Doug says Fancy Lady and autistic boy's mom got into a verbal altercation the other day. Fancy took the ranch dressing off Mom's table without asking. Mom reminded Fancy about manners and that they DO live in the same place, i.e., "You're just as homeless as I am."
    Our little boy is recovering from his tonsillectomy and has a stash of popsicles in the freezer. I gave him and his dad some puzzles and bubbles.
     Truck Driver and family came in around 12:45, and they too ate. They were there for about 30 minutes, and Doug was quite aggravated that so many "visitors" were interrupting the flow. We did manage to plate 40 dinners for tonight, during the mêlée.
     So the noon hour was jam packed with things to do and people to serve. Around 12:35, Fancy Lady asked for special sauce. I took that opportunity to tell her her room number, "in case a volunteer asks you for it." I was going to tell her last week, but I was still too miffed from the Sunday before.
     At 12:50, her guy friend came in. He was very late, but we served him. Fancy holds court with the fellow at every meal, at a table in the back of the room. Around 1:30, she came to the counter and told Doug that it was "about time!" he got finished with his friends, so she could get some service! She wanted a jar of peanut butter.
    Oh, boy howdy, did he enjoy telling her that she had far outstayed her welcome in the dining room, lunch was over, that her friend was very late but got served anyway, and that he wasn't buying into her complaints today! Then she offered to sweep the dining room for him. He declined.
     Dinner also consisted of donated foods: beef tips with mushrooms in heavenly gravy; roasted vegetables (tomatoes, squash, zucchini, portobello mushrooms and asparagus), and red-skinned potatoes, mashed with the skins. I'm telling you, it was a feast. Doug added a little roll, and dinner was done!
     Some folks just don't know service when they see it.