The Painful Life of a Waitress

I am a waitress.  This is the most depressing, menial job in existence.  I'm a servant.  I cater to those who assume they are better than me.  I am subject to their mercy.  I have to kiss their asses.  I have to fetch what they want, what they desire.  I must plaster a fake smile on my face every day.  I must savor my rare and greatly needed day off.

I must sacrifice time with my family and time with my friends to watch you enjoy your food and over priced wine with your family and friends...all for $2.13 an hour plus whatever extra you feel is so gracious, but you don't take me into consideration.

We close at 9:30pm.  I like to go home to see my boyfriend, my roommate, my pet, before they retire for the night; because on a Tuesday night like tonight, they have to go to bed at a descent hour.  6:00am comes early. But you don't worry about that.  All you care about is enjoying yourself. Please do, because I enjoy myself on that rare opportunity to go out, but I respect and consider my waitresses and waiters.

It is 10:00pm.  Everyone has left.  By everyone, I mean not only the other guests; but the kitchen staff and the other servers, too.  Haven't you noticed me aimlessly walking about trying to urge you to leave? I've already taken away your empty plates.  I try to find things around the restaurant to do to pass time.

10:30pm. By now I have removed all of your empty plates and wine glasses.  All you are left with are water glasses which I refuse to refill.  I have turned the music off.  All the tables are set for lunch tomorrow.  I wasn't required to do that, but I wanted to get my point across to you.  We are closed.  We have been closed for an hour.  Leave.

10:45pm. Hallelujah! They are gone. Let's hurry up and enter the tip into the computer so I can do my checkout and go home. What?! They left me $12.00 on a $95.00 bill. You keep me past closing, you ask me for more bread continuously, you had an extra special order because apparently you can't eat anything on the menu (or don't want to) and you leave me TWELVE DOLLARS?! Screw you.

I go home pissed off because I made less than $100 tonight after staying at work for more than an hour past closing time.  Not to mention, I worked the lunch shift earlier today, so all in all, I've been here for approximately 10 hours.

The next day a server asks how last night's shift went. Pause. I keep thinking, but I can't really remember.  I can't distinguish last night from the night before - or even last week for that matter.  Every damn day runs together.  There is nothing in my life as a server that distinguishes one day from another.  It's just another day of being someone's bitch while barely making a living.

But of course...who cares?

Whoa!

Are you kidding me? Has it really been three months since I've posted a blog? That's terrible. I'm sorry I've been M.I.A.

I've been quite busy. I got accepted into Presbyterian Hospital's Radiology Technology program and will begin July 9.  I have a new job as a server where I work pretty much 6 days a week. It's pretty tough, but gotta make that money, right?

Christopher and I are great. We went strawberry picking last weekend, but it was slim.  Most of the berries were green, or rotten. It was quite busy, so maybe everybody else got the good ones.

Nothing is new...the same old thing, just another day. I'm just waiting for school to start. I'm so anxious!