Mitch was our tall, good-looking young waiter at Blackstone's as Jim and I celebrated my 65th birthday Dec. 20th with good friends Paul and Sandy Show. Mitch wore a Christmassy green vest. All the staff wore something Christmassy in red, green, or both.
I'd suggested to Paul when he made our reservation for dinner that he get a table since Jim was still on a walker. We got a table right in front of one of the fireplaces, and it was so nice to be warm after our precarious walk from a distant parking lot over a layer of ice.
I'd considered crawling off the curb from our parking space, but Jim came back for me on his walker and offered me his strong hand and arm to bring me down from the ledge I was stuck on.
We'd thought the weather might keep some people away, but if it did, it was hard to tell. The place was packed.
Mitch hovered respectfully over Paul as he asked numerous questions about the craft beer. After the rest of us observed a reverential silence, during which I could have finished my latest knitting project, a throw, if I'd had it with me, Paul ordered a stout.
Maybe it's something about being half British. Maybe it's something about being from the Gold Coast of Long Island. I don't know. I just know that despite his eccentricities, he's there for you when you need him. He's there when it really counts, and he's been there for countless other people, too.
Dinner was excellent. When I finally got up to go to the bathroom, I felt like my cover had been blown. I could sit up straight, but I couldn't stand up straight. Horrified, I worked hard on erecting myself from an arthritic crouch with a limp. I concentrated so hard on not walking like my father that I walked straight toward the kitchen instead of hanging a left toward the bathroom.
I spotted a sous-chef looking at me with growing alarm, and suddenly Mitch appeared out of nowhere and gracefully steered me toward the bathroom before I got any further toward the kitchen.
I left him a good tip, and God help me, I hope Paul did too. Mitch was a faultless and personable waiter, and I hope he makes it home to Des Moines for Christmas!