There is an old standby of #givingback when it comes to dining in restaurants. Usually, that includes giving a healthy tip to the wait staff. As a family, we always tip generously to show our appreciation to anyone who serves us! It’s non-negotiable, and it’s what we do like Manufacturing Sunshine fo others.
Drive-throughs are another place to pay for someone’s order either forward (or backward). We’ve done that, too, but not as often as tipping when dining out. On the roads, paying for someone’s toll charges when going through the gates was easier than it is today with EZPass. That fun has been erased by technology.
But there is still another way to #payitforward in a restaurant.
Why not pay the bill for either an individual or a table of people?
Meet Andrew, an over-the-road truck driver from Mississippi (with a big southern drawl and a big heart to boot). And, from what he told us, a broken-down 18-wheeler truck. His route usually stops through the Youngstown/Canton/Akron, Ohio area, but he was grounded until his truck was fixed. He claims he is a regular at the Fat Heads restaurant at a large intersection with stores and hotels in Canton, which is very close to where we were staying. My sisters and I walked over to Fat Heads by crossing a vast intersection to get there (that crossing walk was crazy scary, too).
Once we arrived at the restaurant, we settled into our seats, ordered per usual, and waited for my daughter and baby Bodie to join us as soon as they were ready. Since it was Friday of the wedding weekend, with the rehearsal dinner (authentic Italian food) merely hours away, we ordered lighter fare and only drank water with lemon. We were in a festive mood and eagerly waiting for all the weekend festivities to kick in. Lunch was all a part of the weekend, plus keeping the MOG (mother of the groom) in good spirits with no worries.
While enjoying the atmosphere and our large plated appetizers, I quietly mentioned to our waiter, Aaron (I always like to know the name of the waiter/waitress), that I’d take the check. He paused for a second, then got down on one knee beside me and quietly but excitedly revealed that there was no charge.
What? How could that be, I countered.
Aaron then said the gentleman at the bar—and pointed to Andrew with his back to us—is a regular customer who randomly pays for other people’s meals whenever he is in town. There is no rhyme or reason to who he chooses, but he indeed makes peoples’ days!
Andrew single-handedly made all three of our days! We were delighted by his generosity, which led us even more to a great kickoff feel-good story to kick off the weekend. We really couldn’t believe it! Olivia arrived with Bodie by then, and we couldn’t shut up about our recent encounter with Andrew and his big heart to pick up our tab.
The only thing I could do after this whole event was to pick up Olivia’s tab! Paying it forward almost immediately (I would have anyway!).
So, what does this all mean going forward? It’s another way to surprise and give back, not only to the wait staff but also to pay for someone’s restaurant meal. Perhaps it’s all about Manufacturing Sunshine for others!
I can’t wait to #payitforward on my dime.
Photo: Andrew, me and my sisters Kimberly (MOG) and Annette
bSoleille!
Terri
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