It's hard working in Sun City...
I' m not saying everyone that comes into our restaurant
is a Senior Citizen, far from it!
But...
We DO have a large number of regulars
that are retired. Some of them come in every day.
They become like extended family.
Some give us Christmas gifts, some bring back
souvenirs from their vacations.
We get close.
And then those days happen like today.
My first customers of the day came in with drawn faces.
His cancer's back, his wife gently weeps in my arms.
He smiles a brave smile and says he can beat it
AGAIN.
And then his eyes get cloudy.
It's a hard place to work.
Then about 30 minutes later, I get a couple
I waited on last Thursday.
Oh good, we wanted to see you again.
So I take their order and serve their breakfast and have a little chit-chat.
We'll be seeing you every Thursday for the next 4 months!
Are you on vacation? Visiting someone?
No, Thursdays are his radiation treatments in Sun City.
They are here from Oregon, staying in Loma Linda by THAT hospital.
Yes, he has cancer also.
It's a hard place to work.
My dad died of cancer at 59.
And so I cry with my customers and give them hugs
and pat their hands and tell them not to give up.
It was a hard day,
Tomorrow will be better.
By then I'll be able to smile again.
I' m not saying everyone that comes into our restaurant
is a Senior Citizen, far from it!
But...
We DO have a large number of regulars
that are retired. Some of them come in every day.
They become like extended family.
Some give us Christmas gifts, some bring back
souvenirs from their vacations.
We get close.
And then those days happen like today.
My first customers of the day came in with drawn faces.
His cancer's back, his wife gently weeps in my arms.
He smiles a brave smile and says he can beat it
AGAIN.
And then his eyes get cloudy.
It's a hard place to work.
Then about 30 minutes later, I get a couple
I waited on last Thursday.
Oh good, we wanted to see you again.
So I take their order and serve their breakfast and have a little chit-chat.
We'll be seeing you every Thursday for the next 4 months!
Are you on vacation? Visiting someone?
No, Thursdays are his radiation treatments in Sun City.
They are here from Oregon, staying in Loma Linda by THAT hospital.
Yes, he has cancer also.
It's a hard place to work.
My dad died of cancer at 59.
And so I cry with my customers and give them hugs
and pat their hands and tell them not to give up.
It was a hard day,
Tomorrow will be better.
By then I'll be able to smile again.
3 comments:
You're so compassionnate! That would be a hard thing to do. Your positive attitude makes you who you are and I love it!
oh that makes me so sad. my 22 year old cousin just got diagnosed with cancer...it's a hard place right now for a lot of people...econmic times, ill health, family hardships. wow, now that I'm debbie downer...
Have a great day!
You really are more than just a server! I imagine you brighten many days!
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