Sending Some Appreciation to the Service Industries This Summer

This one day was filled with setbacks and disappointments. We learned that Logan’s Pass was closed (it opened the next morning), Bird Woman Falls was subsequently unviewable (it opened the next morning), and then we weathered a few minor bumps, like how this one café had to become ice cream only because there aren’t enough people to work the tables and prep the food. But as disappointing as our day was, the person behind the counter made the whole day that much better.

Our epic road trip has shown me how much the lingering side effects of COVID-19 and how the U.S. is lacking in people to work service industry jobs right now. We’ve ran into these “We’re Hiring” setbacks from Texas to Montana. I can only assume it’s hitting the coasts just as hard. As people with jobs and vacation money, I can’t complain. I try to push patience. I wish everybody was the same.

I wanted to take a post and say thanks to everyone working long shifts full of longer lines and people who were hungry/thirsty an hour ago. I know it is a hell of a summer in a too-often thankless environment. Thanks for serving us.

I will gush on the people in the service industry whom we met, like the guy working the ice cream booth who was real happy and upbeat despite the fact that he had a line twenty people long. It didn’t phase him, and he was happy to help us with our ice cream choices. Every customer was the first customer ever to approach the bar, and he didn’t try to force anyone to hurry. He even paused to set up some music on his phone. The dude was having a good time, and I’m really glad I got to meet him.

The rangers and the park staff are also making the best of a bad situation where a national park is only partly open (hello, ticketing, how I hate you) and they’re dealing with so many additional stressors, like how to make people enter a visitor center in an orderly fashion while meeting federal mandates on social distancing. I remember this one woman working the counter at Many Glacier’s gift shop. She asked me what time I woke up that morning. Maybe she knew I was an early riser? She suggested 5:30am to get the perfect view of the Stegosaurus Plate. I believe she called it “Grinnel Point.” Where do people get these silly names for the mountains?

One of the most insane moments, though, actually happened in New Mexico. We had our first visit to Zeb’s Restaurant and Bar. Zeb’s was one of the first restaurants with many signs around the restaurant asking for patience because they don’t have the staff, but also, please share that they are looking to hire staff. So this is me sharing that message. Zeb’s needs waitstaff! If you know of anyone who’s looking for a job in Angel Fire, NM, they’re hiring!

Our server was definitely under sixteen, and probably closer to ten or twelve. Maybe ten. I’m pretty sure that’s allowed because Zeb’s is family-owned and operated, but I don’t know anything about child work laws in New Mexico. Everybody in the Zeb’s family was working hard to ensure that all their customers were fed quickly. The boy was charming in that little boy way. He only ran to the tables where he was the server, and it was clear that another person was helping him. For example, he asked us for our order, so we gave it. He went to the kitchen, then he ran back to us a minute later asking what kind of gravy we wanted on our potatoes. (White/cream because we aren’t monsters.) He ran back to the kitchen with the update. He ran back to us a few seconds with another question. I forget what the question was, but at this point, Mrs. Bad Ass and I were just trying to think ahead to make sure he had all the information he needed so he wouldn’t be running in and out of the kitchen at full speed. (I don’t think pre-teens know a different speed.) After our long day of hiking up and down the Clear Creek Trail in Cimarron Canyon State Park, we were energized by the family’s gumption in these trying times for the service industry.

Also, I should say that if you ever get the chance to eat there, the restaurant is 75% covered in Christmas decorations all year long, and as our hostess told us, if we wanted, we could get photographs taken in the decorations. As busy as Zeb’s was, though, we passed. When we left, there was a line out the door of people (mostly) patiently waiting to be seated.

So, if you’re still out there, or if you’re heading out soon, please, please be respectful of the professionals on either side of the counter. This is an exceptionally difficult year for them. Practice empathy and patience.

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