there is this special lady I met this year. I met her through a friend as a connection in hopes of getting a job.
she was who I was so nervous to talk to about this job prospect. I just tend to be nervous about talking to anybody I don't know...and even some people I do know. yet finally, I summoned up enough courage to go talk to her and see if she'd give me a job. it was just scary.
first off, I sat in the parking lot forever. I texted Katie and told her I was too scared to go in! she texted me right back "GO in! ask for Emily." so that's pretty much what I did. when I told the girl at the counter who I wanted to talk to, she went behind this big door. my mind was running - here I was, wanting to talk to an important & busy person, who did I think I was? after what seemed like an eternity, this sweet lady came out from behind that big door. [later I learned this big door wasn't as 'glamorous' as it seemed that day. ha!] after quickly explaining why I was there, she got me an application to fill out, and told me to give it to her when I was finished.
finding a seat in the restaurant, I slipped into it and breathed a slight sigh of relief. my stomach was in knots and this was only the beginning. picking up a pen and twiddling it in my fingers, a text had to be sent to Katie: "I DID IT!" then came the process of filling in all of those blanks. what an experience. when it was finished, I sat there and looked at it. then I looked at it again. I was supposed to go take this to Emily. I walked up to the counter, trying to find her, when I heard her call my name. oh? she remembered my name? this struck me as pretty impressive. then I saw her, sitting at a table, obviously in a meeting with another person or two. shyly I walked up and handed it to her, not knowing what else to say. she smiled and told me she'd call me.
Emily called me a couple days later, set up an interview and hired me the same day. I started my job less than a week after that initial nerve-wracking day, and thus began an adventure which would forever change my life.
fast forward to some months later. I remember the day I picked up on the fact that Emily called me Ruthie. it was cute, as well as pretty special to me. in the midst of the whirlwind rushes, cleaning, stocking and daily duties belonging to a job at Chick-fil-A, there really isn't time to stop and chat or get to know people really well, especially a busy boss. yet the more I saw her, the more she intrigued me and made me want to know her. some people in my life are like that... so I held onto the times she called me Ruthie as something special between the two of us.
there was the day when I broke down...in tears...on the job. it was sudden, but it was the result of days or weeks of mounting pressure. I tried to hide the tears, but they were all too visible, and she saw them. she asked me if I was okay, and of course I said "yes" but then my voice broke and it all let out. I wasn't okay... she told me to go to the back and wait on her...she would come talk to me. waiting seemed like forever. I felt like a blubbering idiot standing there crying. people probably wondered what on earth was wrong with me. I kinda did too.
that day I realized another reason why Emily is such a special person and wonderful boss. she asked me what was wrong, what caused that final breakdown, and gradually I told her some of the things that were bothering me. she listened, as kind people do. she didn't say much, for she didn't have to. part of me wanted her to instantaneously fix everything, take away the hindrances and make it all be good. she didn't do that, but it was probably for the best. in the end, the best advice she gave me was this, in summary: "there will always be people that are hard to work with. in those situations, the best [and hardest] thing to do is pray for them. it won't be easy, but it will help a lot." in life I've realized there are two special kinds of people: ones who pray for and with you, and those who encourage you to pray through the difficult times. basically, those kind of people are priceless, and I realized what a special boss I really had.
then there was the morning I left my nametag home. it was pretty devastating, because I'd had it, but set it down momentarily and forgot it. for most of the morning I wore a nametag that said "Curtis." it felt so lame, because I should have had mine, but it would cost money to replace mine. finally, I could stand it no longer so went to Emily and asked her to make me one. she laughed and said "Curtis wouldn't work?" my pride was a bit wounded, because I always thought I could be fine with my one nametag, and I had been for nearly eight months. later, Emily told me "it builds character." that has stuck with me, reminding me that even embarrassing situations can help build character. in the end, she never charged me for my new nametag. I asked her why, and she simply smiled at me and said it was her prerogative, and that she knew when people mean to or don't mean to. my new nametag is kept in my car for a spare, but mostly for a reminder to me. on the back I wrote "Ruthie | it builds character, EJC" reminding me of Emily and the impression she made on me.
mostly, I've been a blessed girl being employed by Emily for the past nine months. I randomly wrote her notes, telling her how she has blessed me. writing is what I do best. following her on facebook, I picked up on the fact that she loves Audrey Hepburn. so I had this idea and asked her if she would send me her favorite quote by AH. she did, and I carefully designed it in photoshop, printed and framed it for her. wrapping it all pretty in red paper and writing a note to accompany it, I shyly asked a supervisor to stick it in the office for her. there was an anxious feeling in my heart, because I really wanted her to LOVE it but just wanted to wait and see what she would say.
that morning I was working the window, taking customers payments and giving them their food. out of the corner of my eye, I saw Emily had gotten there and was ringing up catering orders on front counter. then she came over beside me to fix her morning coffee. it was all I could do to not blurt out "did you see you have something in the office??" the next little while drug on so long. she was in the back awhile, and when she came up I kinda felt that she had already opened it. she walked over and was saying something to Brandi, then she slipped right up next to me while I wasn't with a customer, put her arm around me, gave me a hug and said "it's so perfect. . .you're so talented!" I'd like to say she said "Ruthie" too but what I do remember is that I felt that hug forever, and those words ringing in my heart all morning. she put an extra skip in my step and smile on my face that morning. I had succeeded! she was happy...she loved it! later she posted a picture of it on facebook and said "thank you Ruthie...it matches my house perfectly."
Emily says she is the shyest person in the world. it's probably because she doesn't realize how shy I am. sometimes I want to tell her something or talk to her but I don't, because, well, I'm pretty shy. she gave me a Christmas card with her picture on it, and I proudly hung it up on my desk. she makes me smile a lot, and she really is pretty. my sister commented on it the other day and said there is a sweet, young, pure beauty about Emily. I agree.
God knows what He is doing whenever He brings someone into our lives. I'm pretty thankful He brought Emily into my life, because she has blessed me far more than she can imagine! she has taught me so much about life and people, and the importance of moving on and doing our job well. she's taught me a lot about kindness, how heartwarming smiles can be, patience and reality.
and so I wrote this because of this special lady who has impressed my life greatly. I wish she could read it, so she could know a tiny bit of how she has impressed me. yet even if it's just for me, I wrote it so I'll remember.
I love you Emily.
