Okay so let’s just say – hypothetically, of course – that late yesterday afternoon I couldn’t stand it any longer, and because I am but a weak vessel, my car magically steered itself to the nearest Dairy Queen where I enjoyed a delicious peanut butter cup Blizzard.
Because it totally happened, except for the whole “car magically steered itself” part.
You see, I actually drove my car WITH GREAT INTENTION to the DQ, oh yes I did. And I only got a small Blizzard, which was really a significant accomplishment because I had thought about the delicious peanut butter cup concoction for so long yesterday that I could’ve easily bought the convenient IV-bag size Blizzard if they sold one – and then hooked myself up to it right there in the Dairy Queen parking lot.
So I was pretty proud that I only got a small.
Anyway, I was in a long line at the drive-thru, and when I finally got to the intercom thing-y, I placed my order, which may or may not have also included a hamburger.
(Oh, I was on my way to a meeting and it was suppertime and I was hungry. I AM NOT A ROBOT, PEOPLE!)
Anyway, after I gave the DQ guy my order, here was his response:
“I’m so sorry, ma’am. I was having a hard time finding where to ring up your [ALLEGED!] hamburger on the register, so if you wouldn’t mind, could you please repeat your order?”
I was thrown off just a bit because for a moment I believed that I had been transported from the highway 280 corridor to some sort of alternate universe, a universe of Fast Food Workers Who Care and, not only that, who want to Make A Difference. I mean, I don’t know about you, but the normal level of fast food service that I get is somewhere along the lines of “CanItakeyourorder? Huh? What? Wantfries? Huh? Yeah. Nine-oh-four. Firstwindow.”
So I gave him my order again, and then he said – THEN he said: “Thank you, ma’am, for repeating your order. I appreciate it. I am so sorry for the inconvenience.”
Now I know I live in the South, where we pride ourselves on hospitality and kindness. But this guy – this Dairy Queen guy? He should get, like, an award or something. Seriously. I wanted to make him a sticker for his nametag that said, “I’m The Nicest Cash Register Guy Evir.” I wanted to run over to Lowe’s and buy him a plant. I wanted to tip him.
Once I got to the window and gave him my money, he named my items as he handed them to me: “Your [ALLEGED!] hamburger, ma’am? Your peanut butter cup Blizzard, ma’am?”
And I just stared back at him all glassy-eyed, totally refreshed by an encounter with someone who actually seemed to like people and enjoy his job. If I had his parents’ phone number, I would call them and tell them how well-behaved their son is. They should be proud.
Honestly, his sweet disposition had such an impact on me that I’m thinking about going back to Dairy Queen before church tonight so that I can support a business with such polite employees.
And maybe get another Blizzard.
It would be a completely selfless act of encouragement on my part.
Good night nurse! A nice employee? Seriously, Boomama, you need to contact the manager and tell him about your fabulous experience and insist that he commend this employee in front of the others. It really does make a difference to the recipient, and it gets the other employees to observe that customers DO notice such service… and like it! Besides, there’s nothing wrong with a little competitive kindness amongs friends.
You found your funnybone, I see. HOWLING! Love your blog.
Our DQ slogan is, “DQ — That’s what I like about Texas.” So, obviously, that’s what you like about Alabama — courteous DQ guys. Yeah, you don’t get too many of those!
Our DQ slogan in Virginia is “DQ something different.” Well, that cashier certainly DID…didn’t he?
Aren’t Reese’s blizzards the BEST…well, the mint oreo (only at select DQs here) is my fave…but reese’s is a very close second. Hmm…maybe I should do some taste testing to see which I REALLY prefer ;-)
Maybe that could be dinner tonight? It’s only 5 minutes down the street, bottom of the hill, turn right, turn right. Surely my car can manage that by itself….
Ah, DQ. The only food that always suits my pregnant stomach is a Peanut Buster Parfait. Mmmm.
I think I had better go see if OUR DQ guy is as nice. I’m on my way.
Well, since you were on your way to a MEETING, and we all know how you feel about MEETINGS, it was perfectly justifiable to fortify yourself with a (alleged) burger and a peanut butter cup Blizzard. Had to get that blood sugar up so you wouldn’t pass smooth out, face down on the table right in the middle of the “reach ’em, preach ’em, dunk ’em & keep ’em” speech, right?? ;-)
They’re like that at my local Chick-fila. Even when I go at 6 am for breakfast! They’re so nice I feel confused.
Must go get a Blizzard and inspect the local DQ people…
How was the [alleged] hamburger? :v)
The best thing you can do is call that young man’s manager and let him know how much that blessed you. Seriously, manager’s get so many calls of complaints that that is a real nice shock when they hear something like that! And who knows it might get that young guy a special award or bonus or something!
There are certain sacrifices that must be made for the betterment of humanity, and if it means getting another Blizzard, then Godspeed my friend.
They’re building a DQ on the way home from my kids pre-school. As a working mom, it would just be foolish to drive on by and not get my boys some fries to munch on and me something sweet to sip on for the ride home. ….8 miles is a long way during the “bewitching hour”; and tired and hungry kids are a bad combination…. :)
Too cute! Nothin’ like a nice polite DQ worker to make the day seem cheerier…especailly when he places that nice parfait into your grasp! :)
Well like I always say, “keep going back to the people who appreicate your business”…..ENJOY!!
It is an amazing thing, isn’t it? To find someone who actually SPEAKS to you instead of mutters at you.
I actually tell the people who are so kind and conscientious that they’re doing a great job. Then I usually make sure to get their name and call back & speak to their manager & tell them how pleasant that employee made my experience at their establishment. :)
And you amaze me…the sacrifices you will make (another Blizzard) all for the sake of this nice fellow. A true humanitarian!! ;)
YES! Fat grams definitely do NOT count when you’re eating them to reward polite behavior.
Sarah totally took my comment, so I’ll just tell you this little ditty: Once upon a time in Mexia, Texas, pronounced “Me-HEE-uh”, hometown of Anna Nicole Smith, my brother-in-law allegedly (I say allegedly because this is on of those jokes where everyone claims it was them) stopped for a hamburger on his way from Houston to Dallas. While he was giving his order, he asked the young burger-place-worker, “How do I say the name of the place where I am?”
Leaning over the counter and speaking very slowly and very loudly so he could understand her, she said, “DAI…RY…QUEEN.”
OMEGOSH I LOVE Blizzards. The Oreo one. Mmm…DQ I wish you weren’t 50 miles away.
Oh. My.
This was so funny! What a great post! :)
I, like you, am astonished if any clerk or worker anywhere EVER is kind. Stunned. I want to just hug them and say, “Thank you. For being so NICE.” It’s rare. I think you should have said something to him, like: “You are doing such a good job. Seriously. I want to tell your manager.” And then tell his manager what great service he gave.
So- for that… you’ll have to go back. To DQ. And since you’re there, well, you might as well order another blizzard. Right???
~Stacy
When you’re finished with the DQ man down there, could you send him up here? Because I’m pretty sure there aren’t any like him in Memphis drive-throughs. ;)
A peanut butter cup blizzard would be good, but not as good as a brownie batter Blizzard! It’s chocolatey enough to choke you!
I don’t know if I’ve evir left you a comment, but just had to tell you that I, here in B.R., enjoy your writing! Never know what you’ll be writing about, but leaves me thinking! I’m potty training too; gotta laugh sometimes or else.
I have a similar Chick-fil-A like Kep does. However, I live in Southern California and it is EXTREMELY rare to have such friendly service at a fast food establishment (sorry, the DQ at the mall a few doors down doesn’t even come close in regards to customer service-but I’ll have to stop this weekend just to be sure…). I do love a Blizzard, but I now have a new mistress. And her name is Chick-fil-A vanilla shake. No whipped cream. No cherry. There’s been many-o-time when my car has just ended up at the mall and I don’t even remember pulling in the parking lot. As Miss Bradshaw once said, “I have an addiction sir!” And it is a BIG one.
Oh my goodness, you should have asked for the manager and told him just how great that employee was! That’s super great customer service. I haven’t heard anything like that in years : )
I was a DQ cashier, oh yes I was. :)
Although I live hundreds of miles from Alabama, I feel compelled to stand in solidarity with you and support my own local DQ. Just because somewhere, far, far, away, they have a courteous employee. We definitely need to reward that kind of hiring. And the IV-bag size sounds just about right.
You crack me up. I think we all should go to the DQ and get a blizzard. Ya know just to support the nice people who work there. I don’t care if you live in another state and our people aren’t that friendly here. I’ll support them anyways. Ya know because we should all do our part. =)
LOL!!! You are so funny! I love this blog!
This is quite funny! I’m sure it was refreshing to have such a polite DQ employee.
If I were you, I’d most definitely go back and fill out one of those customer survey things and give him a good review so that he gets a raise.
And if you happen to get talked into ordering another peanut butter cup blizzard (my husband’s favorite flavor), well then so be it! :)
Hi, tt!!! I can’t believe they even have DQ’s in California. I thought they were just in the South. Are you coming our way any time soon? Any football games perhaps?
Ah shucks! I’m SO jealous!! We don’t have a DQ anywhere close to us. I would just love a m&m blizzard or a Peanut Buster Parfait RIGHT NOW! And, go tell the manager…mayber he’ll get a raise?
Oh, and toss a burger in with that too!
I don’t frequent DQ, but EVERY ONE of the little Chik Fil A people says, “My pleasure,” when you say, “Thank you.”
AND. . .one very stressful morning as I pulled in on my way to work and ordered a chicken biscuit and a large diet Coke, after I got my biscuit in my bag handed in through my window, I told window boy that he hadn’t given me my coke. He looked past me for only a split second before saying, “Yes, ma’am. Just a moment.” He brought me ANOTHER large diet Coke. I pulled away and reached to put my icey DK in the cupholder. . .only to find the FIRST one already there. . .which he had seen. . .but rather than embarass the stressed out looking lady, he just gave her another shot of caffeine. Atta boy!
I just love you! Too cute! :-) Thanks for making me smile!
This post is absolutely perfect.
Great writing! C
I recently had a similar experience with the people at Walmart – several people at Walmart! Usually in the store it’s impossible to find someone to help you and if you manage to track one down, they are so annoyed that they may actually have to answer a question from a customer.
Today I was on a desperate search for strawberry plants (it’s this whole crazy Strawberry Shortcake birthday party, must have the most clever decorations ever thing) I couldn’t believe the number of nice, extremely helpful Wal-mart people I talked to. By the way, there are only two strawberry plants in all of central Florida available for immediate purchase and I’m gonna get ’em!
I’ll take a Heath Bar Blizzard :-)
don’t you just love in the midst of a society that has forgotten how to hold doors open and thanks – to have that kind of comment – would definately draw me back to the store!
besides there is a heath bar blizzard calling my name! :-)
Blessings
You have me craking up…yet again. I loved that. I woulda gotten his name from the tag, and called the manager. Because I am, you know, the first one to call and complain…so I try to be the first one to call and compliment too! Managers tones always change when they find out the call on an employee is positive! THAT would be a way to get him acknowledged!
Kilikina
My Blog
Email Me
Howdy Merritt! The only DQ and Chik-fil-a that I know of (within a 20 mile radius anyway) happens to be down the street at the local mall, the South Bay Galleria (fer shure, fer shure, like tooootally). Lucky me, huh? I really want to come back for a game, but I’m not sure if the timing will work out. I’m planning on coming home for Thanksgiving, but I really don’t know if I could stomach a game in Oxford. Are y’all going?
You lost me at Peanut Butter Blizzard. I couldn’t even pay attention to an obviously great post. You see, I’ ve started a diet today and my mind is in complete denial. Seriously, I am glad there is one great DQ worker out there. I have found that my Sonic girls are pretty sweet in the morning when I drive through for my Diet Vanilla Coke (Route 44 are only 99cents plus tax before 11 AM). Go Sonic!
I saw 280 and I flinched. Is this the dreaded 280 in Bham? How funny out of all blogs in the universe I come across yours. It is a small world.
Your post about Mama and the Fish Camp had me in tears from laughing. We have fam out that way too, on my hubby’s side.
I love your blog. Very funny stuff.
I’m too lazy to read the prevous 38 comments, so this may have already been suggested. But, really, I think you should print out your post and mail it to that DQ (the phonebook would have their address). Not only would it be a great pat-on-the-back for Mr. Super Nice Guy, but it would also encourage the owner/manager and the other workers to continue providing that kind of service. Heck, they’d probably tape your post to the wall. It’s so rare for any businesses to get positive feedback.
You are a wonderful storyteller – what a hoot!
By the time I got to the third comment, I’d finally figured out that you didn’t mean “that would be my title” as in, “BooMama, Blogger Extraordinaire and but as in the title of this blog entry.
I think I need a Blizzard…
Ack! My misinterpretation didn’t come through right. I should know better than to use these < and these > in a comment.
It was supposed to say “BooMama, Blogger Extraordinaire and {Insert DQ slogan here}”
maybe that will work
You’re selflessness is an inspiration to us all.