I Will Wait No More
Last night was the culmination of my “career” as your friendly neighborhood server.
I will no longer dress in a white, button-down, collared shirt and tie. I will no longer polish silverware. I will no longer ask if ice water or bottled is preferred. I will no longer watch as everyone around me sips their wonderful red wine or sangria. Fuck sangria.
Part of me can’t believe that, in all likelihood, I will never work in another restaurant again. The service industry has been my life since freshman year. That’s eight years of pulling espresso. That’s eight years of steaming soy milk. That’s eight years of clearing plates.
On my way to the restaurant yesterday, I was (as expected) overcome with a sense of nostalgia. I knew it would hit at some point — I used to love this job. It’s always a great social outlet, and the nights usually end with free alcohol. Somewhere along the line though, I fell out of love. I found myself stuck in a job that made me increasingly bitter.
I can’t waste any more time waiting tables — it keeps me from making progress. I need to focus on what I want to do, the type of person I want to be. So that the next time my plane is landing at LAX, I am not reminding myself that I was supposed to be a magazine columnist at age 26, or that I was supposed to have a great little loft apartment in Manhattan and a job at Amnesty International. It all feels like mere dreams, but it can be real, if I just leave behind my going-nowhere job and do.
25 responses so far
I was so hoping you would end this with, “Check please.”
Good for you! The longer you’re stuck in a job you don’t LOVE, the harder it will be do get out of there. It sounds like you did it at the right time for you.
There really is so much to do. Good luck with everything!
FUCK SANGRIA!
I love sangria, but am with you on the risk taking and the going after what you’ve always wanted. In fact, I’m trying to do that as well. Good luck honey
You’re speakin’ to my heart!
I heart these words!
I love stories like these. Excited to see where life takes you.
You’re an inspiration. And I really mean that. I think so many of us hit this stage and just keep waiting. And waiting. And then look back and wonder why we didn’t do.
Good for you.
Thank you all for your wonderfully supportive comments! Sometimes, it’s difficult to make decisions like these. This certainly was not one of those times.
I’m contemplating the same thing. Good for you; I know it’s a hard step to take.
So glad you’re getting out there. As others have said, it is a hard step but will be worth it.
Good luck!
Congratulations on throwing in the apron. I’m sure you will miss the drinking with coworkers until 4 in the morning or the fact that you always had cash in your pocket but those feelings will soon pass. You’ll do your taxes next year and figure out that you were making more at the restaurant than you do at your new job but you’ll feel a little more respect for what you do and that’ll make it all ok. Then in a few years you’ll wonder how anyone ever did that thankless job.
Luckily every time you sit down at a table somewhere a sever will be pleasantly surprised by the fact that you actually gave them a real tip for their hard work.
My own departure from the weeds was inspired by a customer at a Chinese-American buffet restaurant who was actually beating his metal teapot against the table in an effort to get my frazzled attention. “Two weeks, Mrs. Leung,” I told the owner’s stunned wife on my way back to the kitchen, teapot clutched in my shaking hands. “Two weeks.”
Yay for easy decisions!
You sing the plight of so many Americans. Stuck in jobs that pay the bills. But unable to pursue real professional dreams. I’m impressed you are going to be one of the few who breaks free! Keep us posted!
I never took that track but have friends who I think are doing the same thing, one recently graduated college, now tending bar and serving and loving it, while he makes surf boards on the side. He said something the other say to the effect he will either always love this or in a few years decided to chuck it all and go back to school.
I’m happy you are doing what you want, that is all that really matters, doing what you love at any point in time.
Sangria - well it is one of my favorites.
Where do you go from here?
I’m so glad you decided this. We both know Stevenson will always be regarded with fondness, and I still trudge back up the hill on especially awful days in hopes of seeing someone I can vent to. All jobs after that (invariably in food service) fell short by comparison. I miss the restaurants sometimes. Just today I contemplated applying for a job as shift leader for Campus Dining Services. Same pay as I get now, without the drive. Thanks for snapping me out of it!
Do what you need to do. I know you’ll be great
kja, thanks for your comment. While I understand your inclination to apply for that shift leader job…don’t do it. Keep moving forward. I loved working in the service industry (Stevenson, especially, of course…though I had a good experience at my first restaurant job in Santa Fe as well), but I think it’s important to pay attention to what makes you happy and what will make you happy in the long run. Do what you need to do. I’ll know you’ll be great.
cooper, well I certainly didn’t mean to diss your taste in Sangria!
Honestly, I’ve never even tried the stuff. But I served plenty of it in this last restaurant gig. Perhaps now that I am done, I will be more welcoming to its taste.
Good for you! No matter how good a job is, if it’s keeping us from reaching another big goal? It’s time to move on.
Amen, my dear.
It is good to recognize when you need to move on… and it sounds like you did.
As a side note, it is funny to realize I have been reading your blog for a few months now, but know so little about these details of your life!
Princess Poinful, I have, for various reasons, kept a lot of details of my life private. However, I’m getting a bit more comfortable with posting more personal stuff….Stay tuned, I guess.
While I would never say “fuck Sangria” (it’s too yummy!), I love this post because more of you is in it than so many before, and it’s sometimes great to see that side of the author.
I serve tables for extra cash, so I cannot wait ’til I, too, can leave that behind. That will definitely be a great day, so I can only imagine how great it must feel!
MinD, as I noted to cooper after her comment…no offense intended regarding your taste in Sangra. I’m just sick of serving it to yuppie Santa Feans. ;)
And, as I wrote to Princess Pointful after her comment, I’ve certainly withheld a lot of personal information on my blog and I’m trying to find the balance. I also find that it’s more challenging to publish a personal post, yet so much more rewarding.
Thank you for your comments, and your wonderful compliment.
Congratulations!