IT'S GOOD TO BE A BARTENDER

No, I am actually not a bartender nor do I drink. What is my point? A simple and excellent bartender is not one who knows how to serve drinks. There is so much more than that to the trade.

A bartender is every person, male or female, who shoots the breeze with anyone on anything that comes to mind.

Someone who most importantly pays attention to the person at that moment offers advice if asked and be a sounding board in a better fit. Someone who is genuine in the eyes and the voice no judgment just a friendly type who may merely want to talk to someone too.

I am a security guard at a University in Schaumburg in which I do some heavy amounts of sitting at the Information desk. Rather walk about which I do later like a headless chicken.

Posted right in the center of the front. Therefore, I am the first face anyone will see coming in. My big old head.

Much of the time people will hear me singing. And I mean full blown singing usually Queen or The Monkees with a sprinkle of U2 maybe. More recently I have been singing more Heart and Sophie B Hawkins. Yeah imagine that coming out of a mutt like me. I do not sing softly, ever. No one has ever criticize my choice or presentation to my face. I thank you for that.

I interact with staff; faculty; students and a healthy supply of visitors. The amount of weird comments and questions. Where is the bathroom? Do I work here? Why are there geese outside? The typical stuff.

You all would be amazed at just how many people I have never met will come over and talk to me for anywhere from 10 to 45 minutes just because they need that human contact. One word struck up a debate on music; movies and anything in between.

Not a fan of politics but will listen. I will never speak against God but again will listen with a few kind supportive words for the Higher Power without offending anyone. Sparks some interesting conversations with no harm or fowl. Talking is easy but an art form as well.

Not all of it life-changing but who says that it needs to be? I will be asked where is the best place to get a piece of pizza which will generate the best classic rock song debate on the radio when finding that pizza shop. And sometimes how that pizza shop needs a new mascot and suddenly we are talking about the 1989 Batman movie and why PAC-man can’t be topped.

Conversations will group into life stories because of the need to be an individual not just an employee or gender or whatever. We want that notification from another that we are seen even for a moment.

At Halloween, I even greeted people with a puppet on my hand. Yes, it was a fully made puppet of Barnsy, the pelican. My pelican of course.

Anyone can be like that on any given day. We need to feel as if we matter to someone. The power of a kind word or a smile is awesome especially if someone is hurting. Christ calls us to be one under Him. That is how it starts. Intertwining the links.

We all can feel defeated; unloved or worthless at some point but that one person who just says, ‘How are you doing?’ can make the difference.

Take care. Love you guys.