By Robert Dean
Carter County Times
As the slog of December wears on, I want to tip my cap to the people keeping the world stitched together. The baristas are endlessly filling cups for shoppers, workers, and laptop warriors like me. The single dads are grabbing extra shifts so their kids wake up to something magical on Christmas morning. The moms are holding down the fort with nothing but their own stubborn resolve. And can we get a round of applause for the bartender taking every shift they can, making sure they can afford both presents and their kid’s insulin? Those extra dollars matter this time of year.
To the folks working outside when the snow hits—may the coffee be hot and the overtime worth it. To the retail workers, servers, cooks, and busboys: enjoy that after-shift drink. You earned it. Those burned knuckles, the plates served, the drinks poured—they all add up to the final tally of December, so tip heavy. I try to leave a little extra if I have it. When they spin the monitor back to ya, maybe go 20% rather than 15% – it’s a good look when everyone is scrambling to make the best out of what they can, tired feet and all.
Think of the invisible labor, the emotional load, and the impossible expectations working people quietly shoulder just to make the season work. Without the folks slinging the burger you’re grabbing between stops, the country would grind to a halt. We need the people who stock the shelves, slice the turkey for the kids’ sandwiches, pour concrete in the cold, and even the person holding the stop sign in between the cars.
There are kitchens in this country that will crank out more food this month than you’ll see in your lifetime—especially the Chinese restaurants. They’re open on Christmas, and that fried rice ain’t gonna make itself.
So, if you get a quiet moment this Christmas, don’t just count your blessings; count the people who made them possible. And if someone’s on your mind, don’t just think about it. Call them. No one deserves to be alone this month.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
