A life well lived

It's been a rough work week so far and we are only two days in. Tomorrow will be the real rough day. Let's start at the beginning.

Monday I walk in as usual and say hello to each of my employees. One asks "Did Kortni talk to you?" Assuming that it regarded my conversation with her the previous night I replied that I had talked to her. Then I walked into the office and knew that I did not know what was going on.

"Harold died this morning."

I run a restaurant and we have our "regulars" who visit us at least once a day. They become family and we look forward to their visits, miss them when they are not there, grow concerned when they miss more than one day, and call their house if they miss too many days without warning us in advance. When you talk to these people all the time you get to know them and truly care for them. I talk to my "regulars" more than I talk to my own parents! I care for them and love them as more than just customers.

Harold, his son Lloyd, and Lloyd's wife Janet are people I always looked forward to visiting with. They are such a loving family and always so kind. If another customer was unkind to an employee, it was Lloyd and Harold who would come to our defense and set the offender straight. Being in customer service, we appreciate and love them for this because it is not something we can do ourselves. They are our heroes, our defenders, our crusaders.

An hour after Kortni broke the news to me, Lloyd and Janet came into the store. To be with friends. To be with family. To be comforted with hugs. To share tears.

They visited us twice yesterday and promised to be in today to give us the information for Harold's services. I kept waiting for Harold to walk in the doors behind them.

Today, Lloyd asked for a few items to place in Harold's casket so that he can take part of the restaurant he loved with him. I had already knew the request would be asked for and had another idea.

When Lloyd and Janet came in, Lloyd asked for the items and I told him I had something for Harold. I went into the office to get the item I hoped he would accept. A nametag that matches all of the employees except for a few changes. His name is bold in the middle but where it should say "Proud Member of ____" it said "A valued part of ___." Under his name where our nametags say our position, his says "Valued Guest."

The hug and tears told me it was appreciated.

Tomorrow, I say my goodbye to Harold and am very grateful to have Kortni going with me.