Yesterday morning started out as usual – hectic!  I woke up at 6:30 a.m. and went in to get the kids up and dressed for school while the baby was still asleep.  After helping them change their clothes, brush teeth, etc. we headed downstairs so that I could make breakfast.  Thankfully, school lunch was pizza so Nathan wanted to buy lunch instead of take.

I fixed waffles and scrambled eggs for Nathan & Will and spent the next few minutes getting backpacks and bags ready for school, packing snack, etc..  Rarely do I ever find time to eat breakfast with the kids and this day was no exception.  At 7:28 a.m. we hopped into the car and headed for school.  After dropping Nathan off, I headed back home to quickly shower and dress and nurse Jacob before heading of to drop Will off at preschool.  Still, no breakfast for me.

After dropping Will off at 9, I was headed over to church for our bible study group meeting but realized I was freakin' starving by this time!  I wanted to grab something fast since I had to meet everyone at 9:15 but I was in NO WAY going to get a McDonald's breakfast!  I had to think fast. 

Now, anyone who knows me well knows that I a) hate coffee but love soda b) think Starbucks is highly overrated and rarely go there.  This was all about to change (well, except for the hating coffee part).

I reluctantly decided to head through the drive-thru at Starbucks since I actually do like a nice cup of Chai Tea or hot chocolate occasionally.  Plus I figured I could pick up a nice slice of banana-walnut bread and that would tide me over until lunch. 

So I pull up into the line (which is nearly out of the parking lot long!) and patiently wait to order.  As I roll my window down to yell my order out, I am greeted by the nicest voice.  After ordering a tall Chai and my bread, she asks me, "is there anything else, sweetheart?".  How nice! I smiled.  I kindly replied that I had ordered all I needed to and she thanked me and told me she would have my total at the window. 

In the meantime while waiting to get to the pick-up window, I got on my phone and tweeted about how kind she'd been and the great service I received.  I had no idea how much better it was all about to get.

I finally pull up to the pick-up window and see the barista getting my order ready, so I reached for my wallet, opened it up, and found that my debit card was missing. GASP!  I immediately traced my whereabouts in my own head and realized that that last place I used it was at 7-11 to get gas the day before.  Normally when I get gas, I slip my card into my back jeans pocket but it was miserably cold the day before so I was wearing a coat.  Oops.  Must've put the card in my coat pocket instead of back in my wallet. 

I kindly peeked my head outside my car window and told the barista that I just realized I misplaced my card and that I had three dollars in cash so if she could just not worry about my bread since I didn't have enough to pay for it.  What happened next surprised the heck out of me!

She turned, looked at me and said, (and with a smile, no less!) "Oh, no, I tell you what, this is going to be our treat today!"

I looked at her in shock and said, "No, no, I HAVE three dollars…let me just pay for the tea." 

She then informed me that I was not to argue with her on the matter, that it was their "policy" and that the next time I came in, they would be delighted to have me back!

Was this a joke??  Apparently not.  She handed me the bag containing my bread and then handed me my drink.  She told me she hoped I would find my card and to have a great day.  I left stunned, but happy!

So I am telling you all this story not because I want the kindness of Starbucks' employees to be taken advantage of, rather because I think it speaks volumes to the fact that despite what kind of economy we are in, there are still companies out there wanting to do good by the people. That barista's kindess, sympathy and attitude was so refreshing, yet unexpected.  She didn't have to call me sweetheart.  She didn't have to give me my order and wish me well on my way.  But the fact that she did has made a tremendous impact on my whole viewpoint of the company.  It's just too bad I don't like coffee.  But, I will be back for the tea and bread!  If you love Starbucks, why not join their fan page on Facebook here? ♥