a post about tipping.

It wasn't until I started my job at the ice cream shop, that I realized how much the need for tipping is.  Don't get me wrong.  I've always tipped at the obvious place, like nice restaurants and was off-and-on at starbucks/coffeeshop, but I never thought to put an extra dollar in the tip jar at an ice cream shop.

So, I used to be as bad as the following groups of people you're about to read about -- but from my observations, these are the worst people alive, (in the aspects of tipping).

Christians. (and yes, I am a Christian...)
We have a horrible reputation in the food service industry.  We are the worst and most stingy tippers.  Whenever I see a group of youth kids with tshirts that make it obvious that they're on a mission trip and they all get ice cream on a single tab,  I can just assume that I'm mostly likely not going to get a very big tip, if any of a tip.  There are a couple instances where I'm proven wrong, but it just doesn't give the Christian community a good name when your group has a $90.00 order, and you don't leave a tip.  The drunks that come in on a week night tip better than you.

Middle-Aged Men.
You guys don't tip.  Ever.  And even though you alway order a milkshake, which, let me tell ya, takes a little more effort on our side than just scooping a dish, you still don't tip.  whatsupwiththat?!

People who find Mullets Humorous. (but not enough to tip)
At the ice cream shop I work at, we have a sign on the tip jar, "Everytime you don't tip, a child gets a mullet"  It's a fun, quirky way of getting the customers' attentions.  The most agrivating thing is when the customer is paying, and you see them laugh to themselves or point out our tip jar to their friends, and then don't tip.  like serious?  are you for realz?

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I started working at the ice cream shop this past May, and I live off the tips that I make.  That's how I pay for all of the random necessities of living.  My paychecks go towards rent/groceries/gas but tips go towards everything else.  Tips make it a decent paying job -- but they aren't a stable fixed income.

When you go get ice cream, or a something, just expect to pay $1 extra, and throw it in the tip jar.  The workers will appreciate it more than you think, and if you can't spare an extra dollar, (or fifty cents at the least), don't get ice cream.  Haha, just kidding.  You can get ice cream.

I found this humorous (enough to tip them) ;)  at my favorite place to eat, McDougals.

Stop Looking at my Tips

old ladies, ice cream, & hit songs

a couple days ago, a sweet older lady in her 70's came, alone, into the ice cream shop that I work at.  She asked for a single scoop cup of our pralines and cream.  I scooped it, and handed it to her.

this is not the same lady.  I found this on google.
photo credit: emmasgoods.wordpress.com

you could see that she had really been looking forward to this, and her face lit up.  She said that this ice cream is the best around, and this was her favorite flavor.  (she made sure to tell me that she had recommended it to all of her friends)

I rang her up at the cash register, and told her the total.
"that will be $3.17"
"Oh!" she said in a surprised tone "I don't remember it being that much.  But I know it's worth it, and I'll be the last one to complain!"  She said optimistically.  "You know, one day, I'm gonna have that hit song, and I'll be able to buy a lot of ice cream!"

this sweet lady in her 70's still had the hope of writing that "one song" that will make it big, and will take care of her financially.

this is the hope of nashville.

but that's not the end of the story.

she opens her firmly gripped fist, and lets out several coins onto the counter

counting out the three dollars and seventeen cents in dimes & nickels, checking it twice to make sure she was going to pay every cent.

with all of the change she had in her fist, it amounted to $3.15.

two cents short of the total.

I told her not to worry about the two cents, that it was taken care of, and to have a great day.

she looked a little unsettled, and went to sit down at a table where she had left her purse.

a few minutes pass, I go back to the kitchen to make a milkshake, and a coworker takes over the cash register to ring up the line of customers we were serving.

I look over, and see this older lady making her way back up to the cash register to make sure she was paying her last two cents.
"I knew I had these", she said proudly as she hands the remaining two cents to my coworker from digging deep into her purse, just so she felt at peace about paying the full amount.

this is the pride of nashville

it's people like this nameless woman, that make me love this city.  the people are truly great.  this sweet woman has the hopes of a child, and sees that the sky is the limit.

there is always a chance.  have hope, and one day, it just might pay off.