March 4, 2002

Alive and Frustrating as Hell

The pager started blinking and vibrating.

Since i was closer to the host(ess) stand, I took the device to present it in exchange for our table for nine. I held it up so the thing was flashing in the restaurant host's face.

As I walked up, I noticed that another gentleman was already waiting at the other side of the stand to present his blinking, vibrating pager.

I'm not sure if the host noticed the other gentleman. He was looking down at his list of patrons who are waiting to be seated. He should have seen the other man's pager first...it was in his line of sight held just at the top of the host(ess) stand, flashing not six inches from the top of the piece of the paper the host was looking at.

Nevertheless, the host looked my way, and spoke to me, first.

The combined look of dissatisfaction and frustration on the other patron's face was unmistakable. Only after suggesting the host help the other patron first, did he. Then, and only then, did the host acknowledge the other man who was patient beyond all reasonable expectation.

And yes, the other patron was black.

- Rich