I met some friends for lunch, and due to the timing, I arrived well into their meal, so I sat and chatted before ordering food to go. When I went to order my lunch to go, a woman in front of me in line was radiating joy.ย
“I’ve never been to Chipotle!” she told me. “And I’m SO EXCITED!”ย
Her exclamation caught the attention of the two young adults working. Without saying a word to one another, it seemed that they both decided to make her first time there the most wonderful experience. The man handling the tortillas, rice, and beans explained all the ingredients, and when the woman was delighted by the fact that they had brown rice, he told her that he was sure she would love it.ย
She marveled over the salsa selections, and the woman working explained each kind without a hint of annoyance and packed up each type of salsa so she could try it with her tacos and added the extra lettuce the woman asked for.ย
At the end of the interaction, the woman explained that she didn’t get to buy herself lunch very often, and she had walked in randomly without really knowing much about Chipotle, and the cashier said, “I’m so glad that this is where you came to have your lunch today. I hope you love it.”ย
It was such a small interaction โ maybe three minutes? But to watch two busy food service workers (one of my deepest beliefs is that everyone should work food service and/or retail for a year because it is SO HARD) take the time to be kind and patient with a woman who they could have easily treated as a frustration was so tender.ย
The world feels so harsh right now, and it’s easy to feel downtrodden. But more and more, I’m convinced that there are tiny, beautiful moments every day (even in line at Chipotle) and that the most important thing we can do right now is find ways to take care of one another in large and small ways.ย
I paid for my tacos and walked to fill my cup with Diet Coke, quietly crying because I was so grateful to have witnessed such a lovely moment. I hope you get to experience something that makes you cry happy tears in a weird public place this week.ย
โข ย These photos of teenagers in their bedrooms in the 80s and 90s are my favorite thing on the internet in a while. Her new book featuring even more photos will be released on August 12th! (The New Yorker)
โข ย Do you really need 10,000 steps per day? Probably not. (Self)
โขย When Joy tells me what I should be cooking, I listen. I loved these mid-summer picks! (Joy The Baker)
โขย For my fellow elder millennials and Gen X friends: I loved this article about how Natalie Merchant used her platform to help Tracy Chapman. Two incredible artists. Did anyone else sneak around to watch VH1 and MTV as a child? Just me? (Substack)
โขย I loved reading T Kira Madden’s words about connecting to herself and her homeland through food. (Bon Appetit)
โขย I can tell I’m gonna need a treat this weekend, and I’m fairly certain these milk chocolate banana pancakes are gonna be it. (Joy The Baker)
โขย My beautiful friend Megan Stielstra wrote about grief through the lens of losing her father and Sinead O’Connor in the same summer, and so many writers I love contributed to this anthology honoring Sinead O’Connor’s work and life. (Substack)
โขย I just ordered this ADORABLE Bauble Bar custom tote for work, and I am so excited for it to arrive! (Bauble Bar)
โขย Over on my Substack, I wrote about getting all new clothes this year and the approach I took to rebuilding my wardrobe from scratch. (Substack)
โขย This late summer plum galette looks incredible. Stone fruit is SO GOOD this year. (Joy The Baker)
โขย Please consider my endorsement of this skirt as your sign to purchase a denim skirt. They’re back, and I can’t stop wearing this one. (Talbots)
โข ย I teach creative writing, and this is what it’s doing to students. Yikes. (NYT Gift Link)
โขย Loved this list of Time’s 100 Best Podcasts. (TIME)
โขย I love a good shirtdress, and sometimes, they are hard to find as a petite. I recently got this one from Ann Taylor, and it manages to look structured and not sloppy.ย
โขย As I get older, I feel like time passes more quickly. There are ways to control it and maintain a youthful mindset, psychologically. I’m intrigued. (The Atlantic Gift Link)
โขย Far be it from me to turn down a day in bed or on the couch, but I did love the suggestions in this anti-rot routine. (Bustle)
โข ย Here’s how to craft the perfect itinerary for any trip. (Travel and Leisure)
โขย I know that most of us are not quite ready to talk about back to school, but as a freshly-minted vice principal, I’ve been back for a few weeks now, and I’m ready for someone to bake me everybody’s after-school cookies (it’s me, I need to bake them). (Joy The Baker)
โข ย The Atlantic’s editors on books they recommend over and over. I love this list because there are books I recommend to nearly everyone who asks: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Girlhood by Melissa Febos. My list is LONG! What books do you always recommend? (The Atlantic, Bookshop)
15 Responses
Thank you for the Chipotle story, Amy. This was my favorite of your columns yet. Geez, still crying. Also thank you for the gift links to read some of the articles.
Have a wonderful first year as VP.
Stone fruit is having an amazing season this year. The South Carolina peaches this year are excellent. I picked up some last week that were the size of softballs! And taste amazing too. Fun fact: if your peaches have a mealy texture, they were refrigerated. Buying peaches locally–if they’re available to you–is the way to go.
Farmer’s market or local stone fruit is the way to go!
OMG, the Chipotle story!
Similarly….my parents were watching my nephews for the weekend, and after a long day of playgrounds and farm visits and shopping, they stopped to pick up a pizza at Domino’s. My 10 year old nephew said, “Can I go in? I’ve never been inside of a Domino’s!” And my mom, who I’m sure was exhausted and just wanted to get home, told him that of course he could and they spent a little time watching teenagers make pizzas. :)
Every once in a while I still think, “I’ve never been inside of a Domino’s!” and smile. Like…what wonders does the world still hold for all of us??? :)
One of my favorite quotes is by EB White: “Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.” I think being excited for a Dominos or anything else mundane is such a beautiful way of looking at the world. Thanks for sharing.
Just returned from chaperoning a week at band camp for my 4th and final time. 37 of the most amazing kids were polite, funny, and grateful for little things during a very hot, very exhausting week (seriously, marching band is not for the weak!). They went out of their way to hold open doors and be kind to each other. I told them they give me hope for the future! ??
Kids really are the best. Watching them be so sweet gives me hope, too.
Your story is just what I needed today, so thanks for making my day a little better. I often open one or two links each week, but this time I’m checking out nearly every one of yours!
Dying to know the recipe for the cookies at the top of this post!!!!
Amy, welcome to the world of school admin – the first few months, even the first year, may have a never-ending amount of issues, but stick with it! It’s a wonderful job to be the protector of both kids and grown kids (ie, all of your staff). My first year, I can’t even count the number of times I was screamed at, threatened to be sued, jumped in the middle of fights, and told that I don’t care about kids (because I enforced consequences). By the end of YOUR first full year, you will already know how to handle all of these situations with your eyes closed. I hope you LOVE the job!
Love the Chipotle story! It really makes or breaks a visit to an establishment when someone treats you decently. (I have worked in retail and fast food!) I recently had an experience at a new fast food place in my neighborhood. I have never been to this chain before and rarely eat fast food. I went there to redeem a free custard with any topping for my birthday. The type of topping offered, though it said “any one topping” greatly confused the cashier and the manager. I did mention it was my first time there. Neither the manager or cashier knew how to add the topping for the offer. They made it a big deal, no explanation. I just said forget the topping, felt like crap and let my partner eat the custard. This is a small, tiny thing, but how you treat people makes a difference, especially in today’s crazy world.
What a great post! Thanks for sharing the Chipotle story, it made my eyes teary.
I was a latch key kid in late elementary and middle school. I remember sneaking The Nanny and also TRL. I always made sure to change the channel twice before turning off the tv, lest my parents got home and hit the back button and discover MTV. (Always the overthinker!)
Thanks for the shirtdress link; Iโm in love ?
The Chipotle story is lovely, and what so many of us have learned to hold onto to counterbalance. . .well, the news these days. Whew. Thanks for noticing and sharing.
Books I always recommend because most people love ’em too: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman–ESPECIALLY as an audiobook. Terry Pratchett’s Tiffany Aching series (starts with Wee Free Men; this one also shines as an audio!), Gary Paulsen’s ya novel Harris and Me, and, if you’re an adventurous reader and up for a challenge, Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon.
And this summer I read Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout (very late to the party on her incredible voice and depth) and the story I want to copy out and give to everyone I meet is “Light.” Wowzer.
I’m a h.s. ELA teacher turned instructional coach–congrats on the VP position. We need good leaders.
Thank you for the Chipotle story. It was great! As someone who worked in both the food industry and retail I totally agree that it should be mandatory for everyone to work at least a year in at least one of those industries. I am a firm believer that we can help combat all the intolerance going on by being kind, and treating others the way we would like to be treated. It seems simple but sometimes simple is the best.
I really want the recipe for whatever you are making in the photo. Please!!!
Thanks for the great post. I hope your school year is a resounding success!!!