Loves her job

On my way into work this morning, after my doctor's appointment, I decided to indulge in a "Venti, Non-fat, Cinnamon Dolce Latte" from Starbucks.  They were pretty busy when I walked in, so I ran back to the restroom first.  Since it was around 10:30, I figured it would be an in and out trip.  

When I returned to the counter, there was a woman there, dressed all in black, sort of loitering around the register.  I couldn't figure out what she was doing, so I hung out and waited for someone to take my order.  The people behind the counter were running around like crazy and they all seemed to have a headset on, making them look that much more intense as they steamed milk, added shots and passed muffins out the window.

All this time, they continued to ignore me.  I could tell because it was like the normally over-the-top friendly Starbucks employees were purposely not making eye contact because then they'd have to take my order and intensify their madness.  The lady in black continued to stand at the counter.  At one point, she walked behind the counter.  So now I know that she's an employee.  I'm thinking some sort of manager, maybe from another store, who is secret shopping this particular location.  She came back around the counter and resumed her position in front of the bakery case.

Next up to the counter, besides me and loitering lady is a man looking for a refill.  She promptly takes his cup and runs behind the counter again, refilling his coffee.  She assures him that "she's an employee here, just not in uniform".  He thanks her profusely and returns to his laptop.

I'm still waiting to be waited on and she takes it upon herself to flag down one of the increasingly frantic baristas to have them take my order.  After all, it was the least she could do.  She then proceeded to tell me that she couldn't help but help, even though she wasn't working that day.

I wasn't sure whether to be annoyed or not.  I'm thinking not, because I definitely got my drink a little speedier than had she not been there.  It seemed to make her day to help a stranger out in her quest to achieve ultimate, double shot caffeineation in the most timeliest of manners.  It was also pretty cool to have someone take such pride in what she did that she was willing to perform even above the standards of those wearing the green apron and headsets.  As part of my attitude adjustment, I'm going to resist the urge to think of her as a crazy off-duty barista and more of someone who takes pride in her job and her company, striving for service even when she's in a position to remain anonymous.