The BRIGHT SPOT Awards: No. 052

Monday, March 14, 2022

Recipient:

Angel @ Comfort Dental

Angel is the person who scheduled my next dental visit. (Deep cleaning...yay...)

That's her job. Technically it's all that's required of her, like anyone else who has been hired to serve others. And that's why, when a moment of connection occurs, it feels like a gift.

An innocuous comment about Daylight Saving Time opened up an opportunity to get more personal. We talked about kids, school, various challenges. That sharing made me feel lighter of heart. And then she thanked me for the conversation! 

When I gave her the award she said I made her day. 

Angel, you made my day first.

The BRIGHT SPOT Awards: No. 051

Saturday, February 26, 2022

Recipient: 

Paige @ The Ninth Door, Capitol Hill

 

LETTER TO PAIGE

Thursday, March 10, 2022

Dear Paige,

It was wonderful to see you again last night, and thank you for the stellar service. Being in your section made my birthday dinner even better. And that's saying something, given the delicious tapas and dessert Mike and I so thoroughly enjoyed.

I wanted to also thank you again for your service when I came in a week from last Saturday. You had no way of knowing what an impact you made on my evening.

I was feeling a little sad. When Mike's youngest kid came upstairs to say "we" would be going out for a bite to eat that night, I didn't realize at first that "we" meant just the two of them. The exclusion hurt my feelings even though intellectually I knew it would be good for them to have some one-on-one time. 

Self-care to the rescue.

Called The Ninth Door. The gentleman who answered [chef/owner Brian] said there were no tables open and the communal table was full, but he could save me a seat at the bar. I said that would be great and off I drove.

You may recall that some seats had opened up at the communal table when I arrived, and I could either sit there or at the bar as planned. I normally would have chosen the communal table with its opportunity to talk with strangers. That night, though, sitting at the end of the bar with my crossword puzzle sounded like the most comforting option. 

And so it was. You were very kind and it was a real treat to bypass the small talk and have a deeper conversation (retail vs. restaurant, work anxiety dreams). While I don't give out awards so that people will shower me with gratitude in return, your reaction was very sweet, and as a hugger I definitely appreciated the hug.

Best of all, you didn't think you were the victim of a long con when I got up to leave without paying!

At least I don't think that's what you thought. 

No. The near dine-and-dash (or, in the less-charming vernacular from my Worcester childhood, chew-and-screw) was completely inadvertent. Thank you for reminding me in the most gracious way that I had yet to settle up.

Thank you once more for making my night. Mike and I will return for dinner again soon.

Wishing you all good things,

Michelle