Snack Bar Stories

I worked the snack bar at our local baseball park for the first time ever last night.

Holy Cow, it's like a job!

Like real work job!

I haven't had a 'real' job in... oh, I don't know...15 years or so.

I had a bunch of teenagers in with me.

It was fun, and tiring, and educational all rolled into one.

I will say this... There are teens with a real work ethic, and it made me feel good about our future leaders.

Those young people worked! Hard! I was so proud of them and for them!

I felt very old, very uncool, but they were a joy to be around.

Good kids, all.

I have tons of ideas about how to maximize the profits of our little enterprise, and get more kids involved with serving others and making some extra money on the side.

My favorite part of any job I have ever had is customer service. It is SUCH fun dealing with the general public. I try to make it my mission to make even the most sourest of faces, smile when they are just buying a hot dog!

We ran out of hot dog buns, and we had prepped a bunch of hot dogs ahead of time. I hate to see that go to waste, so the ladies and I came up with a name for a new concoction to as not to waste anything and lose profits. Since there were no buns, we made a "Carb Free Hot dog" just a hot dog with a little chili and cheese and a fork. It went over well!

One lady came to the window and conspiratorially asked me if I hated working with a bunch of teens. I took mild offense to it. She had come up to the window a little earlier, and was just a tad bit rude to the teens. I noticed it, but didn't want to make a fuss... but when she asked me outright, I went ahead and gave her a gentle education.

I told her that, like all people, teens react to how others treat them. IF you come at them with respect and treat them like a person, and not an underling, they will rise to any occasion and show you how mature they can be. They just want to prove they can accomplish something, and do well... just like everyone else.

I had a ball with these young people. I found them polite, respectful, hardworking, trustworthy, and above all, the ones I had in there with me, gave service to our customers with a smile.

That woman just stared at me, paid for her food, and promptly turned around, clearly upset she didn't have a comrad in arms with me.

I am proud to say, one the hardest working kids was my own son William. It's amazing how completely night and day a kid can be at home or working outside the home.

I was pleasantly surprised.

They all worked hard.

Brava, Bravo people!

Teens are people too!

Ciao!