I was in one of my favorite restaurants and was surprised at the lack of service; no one had come to greet me at my table, offer me a menu, or something to drink. When the waiter finally arrived, I could see he wasn't in the best of moods. I ordered and waited.
It wasn't until the end of my meal that I asked him about his story (I have a habit of doing this with wait staff, wherever I go.) He shared that he'd been holding down two jobs but his car broke down so he'd lost one job and the other one let him go because he didn't have reliable transportation.
With no wheels and no job, he had to be resourceful and persistent to land a position where I was enjoying dinner. He walked 6 miles each way, regardless of the weather, to get there every day. There was no public transportation available in this part of town, this was his only option. I was impressed.
I tipped him $100 dollars on a check that was no more than $20. I recommended he use that for his "car fund." I gave him my card and told him to stay in touch, thinking that if I could help further I would. He didn't stay in touch; I don't know the rest of his story.
Yes, it was an outrageous tip. Most would consider it beyond reason. For me, that day, there was every reason.
