20 YEARS?!?!?

It seems a strange anniversary to mark, but none the less it is an anniversary. This month makes 20 years that I have been employed in the food service business. As most of you may know, it's one of the craziest businesses around. You work when everyone else is not. You work holidays, nights, weekends, and when most people are sleeping. If you work in the wonderful position of management, you are obliged to a work week of no less than 55 hours. Sounds like a winner, no?

So why in the world would anybody keep working at such a profession? As I reflect on it all, I guess it's been the people. It sure hasn't been the trips to the emergency room for cuts and burns. Not cleaning things that haven't been cleaned in years in the middle of the night. Not even the fist fights and wrestling matches. It's gotta be the people. Here are a few of the most memorable to me. And since it's my blog, these are ACTUAL names of the guilty parties.

Tarsha Hyman... I blush even now thinking about the things that came out of her mouth. What an education for a 16 year old!

Al Babcok... Gave me the phrase when you just need the facts and not a bunch of excuses and details, "Just give me the baby, not the labor pains."

Eric Lynch... Who taught me how to gauge cook times by how much of your cigarette you've smoked.

Ed the dishwasher... Any question asked of Ed was answered by "Aaahhiite". (Alright)

Mike Padgett... Would actually wait for me to leave the kitchen so he could hide a single egg behind a shelf post on the floor in the darkest corner of the cooler. Then come find me to see if I thought that the cooler was clean. Of course I said yes, and I was wrong. Way to go, Mr. California.

Mike Laverty... One of the coolest managers that ever was.

Bobby Love... Not really his name, but nobody knew his real name. This guy took partying to a scary level. Never joined him, but from his stories I knew better than to be anywhere near him.

Ezequiel... Really nice guy. But for his day job he manually inseminated pigs. By night, salad maker. Yuck!

Donnie Rich... "What's happenin', Cool?!". Could drink more than anyone I've ever seen and never have a hangover. At work on time every day. In the morning, no less.

Raline Buie... The best work wife anyone could ask for. Heart of gold.

Chris the prep cook... Was so redneck the KKK refused him membership.

And the person who takes the #1 spot among all the people I have met working in the food business... My wife. Who's only guilty of loving me while I have been out and about working in this crazy business. She was smart and never got sucked into the food business. And she's the reason I have stayed as sane as possible through it all!