FAMILY TIES THAT BIND AND GAG............

Tonight my regular customer Amy came in. With her, visiting was her daugher Laura. I've been waiting on Amy for 3 years now. She's an older gal and needs an aid to help her about. Amy is from the old school, you had "happy hour" and you smoked unfiltered ciggarettes.
Amy can't do those things any more. She had to give up her Dewar's on the rocks and no more smoking. She now drinks red wine over ice and carries an oxygen tank. She's a wee bit bitter about life. She was a strong, idependant woman. Now, well, old age SUCKS.
I'm the ONLY one Amy wants to wait on her. I see her pull up, I have her drink waiting on the table. I know what she likes and she wants for nothing. Amy can be a bit difficult (as livey would know dealing with the elderly). Ok, Amy can be A LOT bit difficult, but I smile and listen to her. Her aid Betty has the paitence of a saint. There is a special place in heaven for that woman.
Any way.......Laura was down for a visit and I could tell that it wasn't going well. I guess Amy was bagging on Laura for everything under the sun and Laura was just not in the mood to deal with it. I made Laura a VERY stiff martini and that helped. Watching those two was like watching my husband and his father. At one point when Amy was in the bathroom, I sat at the table and let Laura vent. When it came time to cash out, Laura made sure that Amy gave an extra generous tip. I had to laugh, it was her way of saying "thanks for listening".
That's my job. I can listen to people who just want some one to talk to. Some times, if they want, I'll give advice. Most times they just want to know that they are not alone and it's ok to feel the way that they do.