May 31, 2007

Waiter Rant

I was given a link to Waiter Rant by a friend a year ago. My friend advised me that “since you like stories, I’m sure you will enjoy this blog.” As with many other things, my friend was quite right.

Waiter Rant is the blog of a waiter at a high-class restaurant in New York. He writes about amusing, infuriating, touching, and insane events in his life as a waiter. I believe his blog started off as a way to blow off steam at the incredible discourtesy he often has to endure in his profession. Waiter (his real name and the real name of the place he works at are closely-kept secrets) is a superb writer; he’s received a book offer and is currently about half-way through turning some of the experiences he’s written about into a book.

He’s acquired a very large fan base; each post typically has more than 100 comments on it, and many of his fans vociferously defend him against anyone who dares criticize his writing style. I suppose acquiring rabid fans is one price of success—it’s certainly one I’ve never had to deal with. :D

Waiter can write some amazingly touching things as well as describe some hysterical gaffes. He began his career studying at seminary, and many of his musings touch on what faith he has left and the relationship of the sacred to real life. I’m not sure he classifies as a Christian any longer, but if he doesn’t, he fits into an ever-increasing number of people I admire and respect who don’t share my beliefs. My discovery of people like Waiter is what I referred to earlier that caused the breakup of my certainty of the world and who is right and who is wrong.

There are a lot of good stories here: read and enjoy them. I certainly have. Cynic—I’m sure you’ll appreciate this one.

Posted by Leatherwood on May 31, 2007 at 05:39 PM