Full Belly, Warm Heart

Few things can match the love and pride you have as a parent, but days like today come pretty close to it for me. I was on a shuttle from the airport in Chicago, over to my hotel to meet a co-worker. We're in the Windy City until Friday evening for an educational conference. I was watching a video on the shuttle for a restaurant at the hotel, and flipping through FB to see if there was anything interesting going on. I was really just killing time until I arrived at my hotel.

And then it hit me. The restaurant. Chicago. One of my favorite students (I know we're not supposed to say that, but I can't help it) from early in my career, is now a professional chef in Chicago! I quickly flipped to his FB page, double checked he was still in Chicago, and posted a quick and brief question to his page: Are you working tonight?

I was with a small group of teachers, and our conference didn't start until the morning. We all arrived in the late afternoon and planned to head downtown to flutter around like tourists, see the Bean, and check out Chicago. As we roamed, I checked back to FB and had an exchange with Mario.

Understand, I had this witty, skinny wise ass (in the best way) kid in my class for a couple of years. I got to know his family, and I felt like a proud momma when I watched him walk across the stage at graduation. We connected online a few years ago, but I hadn't seen him since that graduation day. Now he's 30ish and a professional chef in Chicago. He's worked for some big name restaurants and under big time chefs, and now he's running a casual eatery downtown.

My friends were happy to oblige, and we walked a mile and a half to find the spot. I can't describe to you how great it was to see him. I could feel my smile from ear to ear. We hugged, we chatted, and I let him go do his thing. I told him I wouldn't leave without saying goodbye. 

My friends ordered a bottle of wine and a cheese plate, and we added an order of house made pickles and a jar of house made beef jerky. All of it was terrific, and we sat and talked for an hour or so. When the server bought the check, he said there was a little bit of love in it and walked away. My friend looked at the check and then looked up and said, "A lot of love." Our check had been comped 99%.

It was time to see Mario again and I asked him if he had anything to do with our check being comped. His answer, "No, we comp checks all of the time when a bunch of nice ladies come in." We laughed and talked some more. He told me he called his mom and told her I was there and promised to take a photo and send it to her. I was thrilled, because I was going to ask for one too! He offered to hook us up with reservations at a couple of other restaurants he's worked at, and we exchanged phone numbers. I agreed to get back to him tomorrow when I knew what we wanted to do. 

I gotta tell you, seeing Mario totally made my day. My trip just started but seeing him will no doubt be the highlight. I just can't put it into words. Without getting into his personal business, I saw him go through a difficult time in his educational career. He stuck with me. He allowed me to help change his mind about what the school experience could and should be. And in the special environment created at this very unique school, we shared a little magic- the magic of a classroom community. I've written about the teaching experience before, and Mario is just another success story from that very special place and that very special time. 

And below our photo and my post on FB, his mom posted this: "Laurie you were definitely is inspiration and believed in him!" An inspiration, I'm not sure. But I did believe in him. I still do. And he's made his family, and this old teacher pretty damn proud.