5/8/2006 - Yin and Yang at your local Starbucks

Yesterday, I went to Starbucks to order my usual. My order was taken (or not taken, to be exact) by an attendant who smiled but was incompetent. After I rattled off my drink, she stared (still smiling) like a deer in the headlights.

To be fair, my drink has 4 adjectives, and they get it wrong about 1 in 3 times, so I cheerfully repeated my order. Still nothing. I was about to repeat myself again when the other attendant called out:

"Venti vanilla soy chai latte?"

I couldn't help noticing that the other attendant, though quite competent, was frowning. Perhaps she didn't approve of my drink.

60 seconds later, I got my drink. It was perfect. Soy? Yup. Vanilla? Yup. Tea? Yup. And just the right mix. I was about to walk out when I realized that I had just received perfect service. Exactly the drink I wanted, served with a smile.

I tipped them. They smiled.

13,000 well served steps today. Cheers,