A Lesson in Civility and Compassion

This isn't the kind of blogging I usually do. A story alone...what no pictures?! Well, I did have to add the logo because I believe in posts with pictures. However, I am the absolute worst at finding lessons in my everyday life. I can do a lot of "10 years later in hind-sight" learning but hardly ever do I recognize immediate life lessons to blog about as I see on every other blog I read.

Tonight, amazingly, I was hit over the head with one.

I love Barro's Pizza. It's so yummy, greasy, cheesy and soft crusty. When we first got here in our move from NM to AZ, we arrived to our rental house before our stuff on the big truck did. AND it was just the kids and I...Scott had stayed behind to finish work and take care of the house that needed to be sold. We had nothing. A kind friend, Kristen, brought over that morning some donuts and milk, so we had some leftover napkins and I think a plate...one plate. So I called Kristen and asked where the best place to get pizza is. She immediately said Barro's and gave me their number. It took the truck 3 days to catch up with us so we pretty much had Barro's each night and leftovers for breakfast and lunch. Amazingly, the pizza is so good that we never tired of it. When our things arrived we began to eat like civilized humans again, but the love affair had begun with Angelina Barro and her pizza.

Tonight, because I am lazy, we ordered Barro's. Our standard 1 XL cheese and 1 M pepperoni. I tell them my phone number and they confirm it's me, Pam. I ask how long for delivery...1.5 hours, yikes! I ask how long for pick up...30-35 mins, better - see you then!

As I try to walk into the restaurant, I notice how amazingly crowded it is. I think to myself, "must be a school fund raiser night". It's really chaotic though, not the usual well oiled machine I'm use to. They are yelling out names and offering refunds or credits. I start to ask around what the deal is and I learn that it's not a school fund raiser but a fund raiser for a family in Seville that lost their Dad and at least 3 schools were given fliers for it. Wow that's a lot of schools. Sad for the family. OK, I'm up for waiting for a family without a Dad, no problem. Then I start to hear people getting really upset. I feel bad for those behind the counter, they really are doing their best to get the situation under control. These are cute little teenage girls that are really earning their paycheck tonight!

I look around and see a familiar face. My friend Renae is waiting as well and we migrate toward each other to comment on the situation. We agree that it's out of control but they are trying. I really feel bad at this point, as the manager has come out to help, that they are being abused. Granted, there was some definite communication problems and they had completely lost some orders, but I still felt like they really were doing the best they could under the circumstances. Renae and I pass the time by discussing the upcoming release of "Breaking Dawn" (total Twihard here...can't wait!!)

I'd been standing there for about 20 minutes already and haven't even been able to tell them I'm there yet. I see an opening and make my move. I lose Renae, hopefully she got her pizza and enjoyed an easy dinner with her family...sorry I didn't say 'bye' when she left.

I reach the counter and ask, in my nicest voice, if my pizzas have even been put in the oven yet. The manager looks at me with the most pleading look and says, "no, but they will be in the oven in no more than 5 minutes and they will be done in 15 minutes but you can cancel the order completely and I won't blame you at all!" Oh, great! That's better than I expected, ring me up! He looks at me with an amazed 'are you sure' look and then tell me to hang on. He says, "thanks for your patience, I put a credit on your account for next time and there's no charge for tonight". "What? Really? Wow, thanks!" was my reply. That made my night!!

Lesson? Civility and Compassion made 2 people's nights tonight. I'm sure that manager expected me to yell at him and tell him that I had already ordered my pizza over an hour ago and that this is unacceptable and yada, yada, yada... Instead, he got a small break from the abuse and was grateful for it. My heart goes out to him and his crew for the night they had (and are probably still having) and I hope I can be understanding like that again...it felt great! And the pizza? Even better when it's free!