A while ago, I walked into Freebirds with my husband who told the guy serving me that I was not a huge fan but he could change that. The guy gave me a hard time about everything, EVERYTHING that I wanted. He even challenged me when I asked for a little more cheese since that's the only thing I really wanted on my tacos. He wouldn't do it unless I paid 50 cents per extra scoop. I told him that Chipotle would give me extra cheese, no cost. He countered that Chipotle had more restaurants and could afford to do that. I mentioned that the sign at the front of the line says everything on the list - cheese included - is free. He didn't know what I was talking about. I left, hurt and very angry about how I'd been treated, especially when my husband had made it clear that I wasn't a fan (though I was amiable) in the first place and I called the manager to complain. I've worked food service in my lifetime and that is no way to treat a customer. They told me that I'd go in their book and my entire family could eat for free whenever I was ready. I'm still not ready.
Today, we went into Freebirds again and I had my bag of superior tacos from Chipotle-made any stinkin' way I want - in tow. The server today was a man wearing a Longhorn shirt. Mr. V asked if he went to UT or was just a fan. Just a fan (there are tons of people who sport the gear but never set foot on my precious 40 acres) but he's working on his associates. There was more small talk but it was all very nice.
Sitting down at our table, Mr. V asked me if that was the same guy. I said, "No. He was nice." Truthfully, I was so upset about the incident that I really remember the words and intonation better than the person who spoke them.
The man who had served Ryan today came over and asked if he could do anything else for us other than apologize for the way he had treated me so many months before.
I was SHOCKED. I couldn't believe he'd remembered me. Not only that, but he remembered that we'd been in a couple of times since - and I'd never ordered anything in those times. It was a great apology, too, one where he acknowledged exactly where he screwed up - "I had the opportunity to turn you into a fan and I blew it" - didn't blame anyone but himself, though Mr. V tried to help him out with that, and offered to make amends. Next time, he told me, "the cheese is on me." He confessed that he had to change, not only because of the incident that got him into trouble (I'm the only one who has ever complained about him) but also because of his promotion to assistant manager.
How much growing up he had done in the days since our initial encounter! I'm very impressed by his apology. I still can't believe that he remembered me or that my complaint had really meant something to him. There are far too few people anymore who take responsibility for their own actions, and fewer still who don't apologize without throwing someone else under the bus at the same time. This young man has grown from this experience and I'm glad we had a chance to reconcile. I feel more at peace walking into that establishment in the future.
Who in your life deserves an apology? What are you waiting for? Reconciliation may not be easy but it's worth it.
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