Happy and Sad at Montana’s

Imagine a waitress hurrying to serve the hungry dinner crowd. Amid the laughter and bustle she notices the middle-aged man sitting alone in her section. He seems a little sad and somewhat uncertain about being in the restaurant at all. Despite being busy, she takes a little extra time with the gentleman and learns that this is his first visit to a restaurant since losing his wife to cancer.

Over the course of the service she gives him a little extra TLC. She also learns a little more about his way of thinking and realizes that she has a book in her schoolbag that might be of help. Without thinking twice about it, she gives the man the book. His quiet tears and tremulous smile are enough thanks, but the story doesn’t end there.

A few days later the man returned with some of his late wife’s books that were in a similar vein he was given; they were books that his wife had loved. He gave these books to the young woman who had befriended him on that first night out and is now regular customer.

And yes this is a true story. I know because my daughter works at Montana’s with this waitress. How luck the company is to have her on staff.

It also shows how important simple kindness and courtesy are in building long term relationships – and not just in the business world.