arby's keeps me pretty

The Arby’s guy knows my name. He knows my car when I pull through the drive through. He knows I like my large Dr. Pepper with a little extra ice. He knows I’m sort of a newlywed and that I used to work in television. No disguise works with the Arby’s guy. I’ve worn scarves, sunglasses, even gone in my husband’s car instead of mine. He always greets me by name and with a big, friendly smile.

It seems that this would be considered excellent customer service. It some ways it is, obviously, but most of the time I just wish the Arby's guy and I could pretend every time was the first time and go on about our day.

The Arby's in Hollywood is across the street from Tribune Studios, where I worked for over a year on a Fox show about nannies. This is how the Arby's guy got to know me so well. Every single morning I dropped in for my morning drink (and two chocolate chip cookies, that was my breakfast). It is also a stones throw from my house. Not really, but in relative terms, it is very close. It is one of the only restaurant establishments within a ten mile radius that carries fountain Dr. Pepper, and they happen to have particularly yummy-mixed Dr. Pepper at arbys. You can see my dilemma.

If I need an Arby’s Dr. Pepper first thing in the morning, during an afternoon slump, or to sip with my dinner, I always have to pause and make sure I’m presentable. Because the Arby’s guy appears to work every single shift of every single day. I swear I can only think of one time I have ventured by when he hasn’t been there.

Sometimes it’s a real pain in the rear to make sure my hair is brushed and my skin isn’t going to scare anybody. The Arby’s guy is cute enough, but he’s hardly swoon-worthy. Still, I can’t bear for him to see me looking like a disaster, which sometimes I do. It’s the non-working thing. You say you’re going to get up and get dressed in the same way you would as if you were stamping a timecard, but it doesn’t always happen. The day starts rolling like a steam engine, and before you know it you’re still in your Uggs and t-shirt, why change now?

On day three of our honeymoon, the waiter who served us breakfast every day recognized my husband’s name on the bill, and came to our table awkwardly professing his undying love. We were in Tahiti for heaven’s sakes! When he walked away, I turned to The Gorilla and was bummed. “Now I have to put on lipstick before breakfast. On my honeymoon.“ Maybe I should have clued in that honeymoon is one of the places where you want to look your very prettiest.

In my everyday life, it’s the Arby's guy who keeps me accountable. If he’s the only reason I slap on some mascara every day, then so be it. Beauty is pain. And I NEED my Dr. Pepper.

Comments

[jaime]

I don't know what to say, except that I am immeasurably moved by your thoughts. This, more than anything you have ever written, speaks to me. Why? Because when we lived in San Diego I had the EXACT SAME DEAL with the checkers at my Von's, and one in particular. The problem of the Grocery Store Friend is somewhat intensified for me, because I find myself captive in her line for extended periods, depending on how much stuff she has to scan. And no matter how hard I tried, I ALWAYS ended up in the line of the Woman Who Ponders and Comments Upon Every Item In Your Basket. Indeed, the day I purchased my First Response pregnancy test to find out whether I was With Max, I ended up in her line. Just as I was breathing "surely not..." she picked up the pink and white box and said (to me and the two men in line behind me) "Wow. I have sold THREE of this same brand today! Will this be your first?" Mortified, I said some version of "no." After a few additional uncomfortable moments as she scanned the Other Things In Your Basket That You Only Picked Up Because You Didn't Want To Look Like You Just Came For The Pregnancy Test/Tampons, I was fumbling to sign the receipt, find my keys, and get out of there stat. Just as I walked away, and achieved a distance that she had to "call out" for my attention, she hollered "Well, Good Luck!"

Seriously? Yes. I can't make this stuff up.

[Megan]

heeeee. Good stuff! This and Jaime's. Definitely needed the laughs today!

[Michael]

Loved this post!!! It is so real.

[Sarah @ This Heavenly Life]

I'm visiting from the EO, and this was perfect! So funny. Jamie's comment had me laughing, too :)

[Heather of the EO]

oh lady, too funny.

I can seriously relate to this on many levels. Especially the love for the DP. Oh, and the inability to get up the gumption to look presentable when I don't really have to. :)