I got there as Burton was finishing. The wait staff and
managers were busy taking photos with him. They had served him a large plate of
chicken fried steak. He spent 5 minutes
trying to cut a piece off and eat it as one waitress or another posed with him.
Very good naturally, he lifted his fork, dripping with gravy and posed with
several people.
I just hung back and wanted him to finish. He smiled and joked through all of the interruptions. As he finally got the forkful in and chewed,
he looked around and saw me. He waved me
up to the table. I waved him and off and
said I’d wait. He swallowed and told me
that it’s his pleasure. He pulled out a photo and picked up his pen.
He read my name badge and signed his photo. (Yes, I stopped
by during my lunch hour.) I thanked him and was ready to let him eat in
peace. That was not in the cards. He asked where I grew
up. I told him Jersey. He gave me an even
a bigger grin. He asked if I knew of Cape May. I nodded yes. He told me he was in the Coast Guard
and stationed there. Then he told me he
boxed for the Coast Guard. He had a very impressive record. I paused. I looked
at his nose. I said, you must have been good, your nose wasn’t broken. He said
nope.
Then he asked where I worked. I told him I’m at Mary Kay. He paused and he
pulled a name out of the past: Rodgers. I
said: Richard? I got a quick and emphatic
yes. He told me he went to church with Richard
and his mom, Mary Kay.
At that point I left.
He made a great impression with me and I was smiling all the way back to
work.
AH
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