you always remember your first

welcome to the world of waitressing.

today marks the day of my first official waitressing shift (applause). the thing i was most nervous about was memorizing and reading the specials, but that came more naturally to me then i thought it would. i just have to get used to the fact that some people will tip me 8% while others will tip me 22% no matter what i do. well, that isn't entirely true. i'm sure that if i set their sweet tea down and proceed to help myself to the first sip that might lessen my chances of cashing in big. but don't worry, i'll never succumb to such an act. we servers are very skilled at concealing our frustrations on the floor, then letting them spill out as we cross the threshold separating the "restaurant" from the "steam zone". oh, no one actually calls it that...i just figure it's a befitting name for such a space. a space where we can congregate and let off steam. get it? good.

now hear me out: i realize i'm just a newborn compared to my more experienced, more knowledgeable co-workers when it comes to the restaurant business. seems like coach just put me in the game during the 2nd half with 7 minutes left on the clock while they have all been on the floor since tip-off. i have much to learn. but that also means that, without sounding too dramatic, i've hit a unique, once in a lifetime marker where everything i experience on the job is for the first time and with fresh eyes. like a "first kiss", this is my last true "first shift". that being said, i anticipate many, many waitressing-related stories making it onto this blog in the future. like this one, from earlier today, around 11:45 a.m. in walk a couple. in comes a nod from the hostess. in goes the oxygen into my mouth as i take a breath, gather my nerves, and walk over to greet my very first customers. in comes the buzz-kill as they decide to get up and leave in search of a restaurant that can better satisfy their breakfast food-craving palette. in fires the jeers from my fellow servers. well...you always remember your first!