Continental Breakfast ….

A lot gets done over morning coffee in the business world, especially in the leisure business. As a professional tour guide, the schmoozing and pressing of flesh begins long before office workers ever hit the trail to the place of employment. Table hopping, laughing and scratching with the guests, and tale regaling from the previous days adventures bring everyone in the group closer as a unit and helps to provide more fun for all.
Tis an interesting arena into which such a diverse crowd gathers, all for entertainment and fun and relaxation. Although, at the pace they keep, one must wonder just how relaxing it could possibly be. Doctors and doctor’s wives, plumbers and their “old ladies”, retired CEO’s and their proper spouses, business people on vacation, sisters, brothers, sons, and mothers, they all put down their fare and rely on others to entertain and please them on another great adventure.

Others come to breakfast as well. Without paying they come. They arrive much, much earlier, before anyone else is even out of bed. Tis these who make the coffee, prepare the biscuits and gravy, peel the hard boiled eggs, prep the juice bar and make ready the milk for cereal. Rhonda is one of those. Four A.M. comes mighty early for her but that’s what is required of the Continental Breakfast Bar manager at any respectable hotel. Slender, five feet four, mousy brown hair, 30-something, pretty eyes, she industriously prepares the food, provides plenty of coffee and keeps the tables clean during the breakfast rush. Her work day is nearly done by the time the revelers load the motor coach for another day of fun. Just in time for her to scurry off to her second job.

Rhonda makes people glad they came down to breakfast. This breakfast room is her kitchen. She scurries to and fro tending to business, chatting, smiling, industriously plying her trade, always with a big smile and friendly “good morning”. To be shocked awake early in the morning is not what one would expect when being greeted by the friendly breakfast room girl. But when Rhonda smiles her big warm, friendly smile, her disarrayed, discolored, and missing teeth suddenly awakens the listener to stark reality. This warm, friendly, cheerful, industrious, hard-working girl has the worst looking teeth most people have ever seen. It is indeed quite difficult to look at. How could such a pretty and happy creature have such terrible teeth? What happened to her? What could she be doing if she weren’t so hideous?

Schmoozing and befriending folks over the several days of the tour brings people together who would, under normal circumstances, never meet let alone become well acquainted and friends. Life stories are often swapped. Inspiration is given and taken. Diana, the tour guide befriends everyone in the room and does so with such finesse. From Tom, a national company owner and entrepreneur, to Rhonda, the humble but happy breakfast room girl with the terrible teeth, all are good friends of Diana. She warms the room. She praises Rhonda for her exemplary work and good food, making her feel important and appreciated. She tells Tom of her own childhood and previous life, all personal stuff. Friendship abounds all for the sake of acquaintance and friendship. The tour will end and each will go their ways but the bond will remain and smiles will frequent their several faces for having shared these experiences.

Departure days are bittersweet. The tour has kept everyone up late at night and practically run their legs off for a week. Laughter and smiles have been plentiful and new friendships have been refreshing. Addresses are exchanged, e-mails and contact information abound. Luggage loaded and the coach ride to the airport is all part of the business of departure day, as is that final breakfast. Before you know it most of the passengers have boarded their flights to everywhere and only one remains. Reminiscing nearly done and final good byes eminent brings Tom, the business owner, his wife, and Diana, the tour guide together one last time. Conversation turns briefly to all the good done by Diana and how her life has brought her to this moment and this airport on this morning.

Moments before departure, Tom, inspired by the warmth and friendliness of the people who have served him over the week grasps Diana’s hand and places in it his business card and contact information. “I cannot get that Rhonda from the breakfast room out of my mind”, he remarks.” Such a pretty girl, vivacious and happy and such a good efficient worker. What could she accomplish if only her teeth were not such a mess? I want to help her. Diana, please do me the favor of finding out all about her, all her circumstances. You go get that information and get it back to me. Will you please? You know how to reach me. I want to get her teeth fixed. I want to provide that girl with an opportunity.” Through mutual tears and hugs and good byes, the deal is struck. Rhonda, the warm, friendly, industrious, hard-working, pretty little breakfast room girl is going to get her teeth fixed. It’s just like that “make over” television program.

Tom and Mrs. Tom board the plane to home behind hugs, and tears, and waves of joy and inspiration. Diana, waves one last time, wipes the tears from her eyes and sets her course back to the hotel. And thus one trip comes to an end as yet another, this time for the unsuspecting breakfast room girl who comes to work at four A.M., is just about to begin.

For Diana, it’s just another day at the office. Changing the world, one life at a time.


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