A Few Kind Words

"Everybody likes a compliment."  Abraham Lincoln

The Most Handsome Man in My Life - Dad, about a year before he died

I have a confession to make.  Besides sitting out in my art studio and making stuff for many hours of the day I also waitress at my son's restaurant two nights a week.  I have been dabbling in restaurant work for over 45 years, oftentimes as a manager, and I love the interaction with the guests as well as with the restaurant staff.

Through all those years of connecting with the public I've learned how effective a compliment can be to establish rapport.  I've also learned that most people can spot a false compliment a mile away.   False compliments are like the bar talk between singles just before closing time.  You get the picture.

At any rate, on a recent, busy Saturday night a young couple came into the restaurant.  I'd guess that they were in their early 30's.  The waitresses all noticed the young man immediately because he was tall and slim and had a soft, rugged look.  One of the waitresses wondered if he might be a model.  The waitress who had their table said that he was extremely polite.  Well, I just couldn't let the moment pass.

As the couple was leaving I walked up to them and said to the young man, "The wait staff took a vote  and decided that you were the best looking man in the restaurant this evening."  He not only smiled, he glowed.  The young woman with him was also beaming.

Too often, however, I notice something about a person, such as a kindness they do, and fail to mention.  Fail to simply move my lips and put into words what I'm thinking.  What a shame because it's just as easy to notice and speak.  And as Honest Abe tells us, "Everybody likes a compliment."  Wouldn't that be a nice little gift to give to people in your life for Valentines Day!