"Where are the pickles," I ask? 
I know this sounds ridiculous, but I'm still waiting for my pickles. A few days ago I stopped for lunch at a local restaurant. I do this a few times a week around town because it's a great place to meet people and talk about real estate and insurance. Always good for a few cards to be distributed. This was a new place so I thought it would be fresh and exciting.
I ordered the pulled pork special..."All gone!" she said. "We got meatloaf instead." Guess what I'm having? My server was a seasoned professional, she had served many before me, and perhaps before my time. My soda was always filled and the condiments right on cue.
"How about some pickles? " she asked. Well, I'm a big fan of pickles and she didn't even know. In fact I worked on a farm in Ohio when I was in college that grew pickles. They had a pickle sorter and everything. Not to mention, I had a divine recipe for kosher pickles which I had made at the end of several growing seasons. "Oh boy, yes I would love some pickles," I made sure my server knew.
Well the meatloaf came, fries and all. It was meatloaf, no more no less. I was thinking about those pickles as I swabbed the last bite of gray from my plate. My server was battling the lunch rush; she had it well under control, four coffees in one hand and three plates in another. She was a true professional and made it look easy.
"Any luck on those pickles?" I muttered, as not to upset her. Too late, she yelled to the back kitchen,"How bout' them pickles?" I shrunk a little in my sideline seat after she bellowed to the help. It's not really a big deal I thought, it's just a few pickles she promised. I could come back another time or maybe they're a special this week only? The pickles got inside my head, and I couldn't let it go.
My lunch was ending, the person next to me made a joke, "You in a real pickle, hey pal?" Ha, ha, I chuckled. I was starting to see the message here and not getting the pickles was just the vehicle. The server dropped the check and never made mention of the pickles or lack of them. I said nothing either, I left my money and a modest tip, and have not been back since.
I spent some time thinking about service and making promises. As professionals we always have the opportunity to say we'll do things and make large promises for delivering the goods. As humans we are all fallible to some degree.
Have you ever forgotten to bring the pickles?
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