The love of work and laughing

When I first started at Applebee’s in September, it was completely new for me. Dunkin Donuts came easy to be as my mom, and her boyfriend both worked for the company, so I learned all the important details prior to me starting. For my new job, I had never hosted before. I did not know anyone, and I did not have any knowledge of what I was doing. At Dunkin Donuts, I was able to joke around, and laugh with just about eveyrone. Most customers that walked in, I formed a relationship with. I was able to joke with them about anything. My worry was, how would I form this relationship with anyone else? Is it even possible to joke around like I can at Dunkin at Applebee’s? Laughing is a very important part of my everyday life, and I wasnt ready to give that up.

Eventually, I warmed up to my co-workers and bosses. I was able to joke with them, pick on them, as well as get to business when I needed to. One slow evening, My co-worker Latesa and I were having a conversation about how dead the restaurant was, and how she wouldn’t pick up another sunday shift. Another co-worker, Dube dropped a dollarita glass and it shattered on the floor. Nasha, another co-worker was coming around the corner, pointing at Dube and was saying in a higher pitch voice, “Dube did it, Dube did it!” Latesa and I broke out into laughter. No one quite understood why we were laughing.

Four months later, Latesa and I still find ourselves pointing at each other Saying “Dube did it” just like Nasha did to start our shifts laughing in a good mood. As we continue to do our jobs, Another night, I sat a table for girls in a corner booth. I told them their server Nasha would be right over. One of the girls looked at me in shock, and said, “Basha? What kind of name is Basha?!” Already having a laughter filled long shift, I couldn’t hold it in, and instantly broke out laughing say “No, Nasha as in Rhonasha.” Then as I walked away still laughing I repeated the Girl saying Basha. I told Latesa about what had happened as she watched me nearly fall down laughing in the kitchen. Latesa and I now are close, and her boyfriends parents even talk to me as if they have known me for ever.

When Latesas in-laws come in, they always greet me with a smile, a hug, and a heart warming “Hey RyRy!” They always sit at the bar, and tell me stories about something funny that happened throughout the week I didn’t see them. It’s nice to go to work, and feel welcomes by not only my co-workers, but also the guests.

Although working in the public, it is important to be able to have fun, laugh, and joke with co-workers, as well as guests who you have formed a relationship with. Laughing is an essential part of my life because it opens up more doors for me. It has helped me to be the goofy, but responsible trainer I am, as well as helped me to have great relationships with people I thought I would never talk, or even be friends with. Without laughter, I wouldn’t have a clue what my life would be like.