I waited tables for several years of my life,
It's what I did to keep my children alive.
And with no education to go a long way,
To the tenth grade was all I had made.
The money wasn't much for me on my pay,
But the tips really helped in my pocket each day.
There was always clothes and shoes to buy,
And food enough to keep our family alive.
They never complained to me very much,
When at school they had to eat a free lunch.
I wish I could have given them more,
And buy designer clothes at the store.
When I'd get home I'd collapse in my chair,
Look at my bills, then pull out my hair.
I always thought the poorest people I served,
Gave me much more than I deserved.
My favorites were the little old couples you see,
For somehow they seemed so connected to me.
Sometimes they'd walk in and hug me so tight,
And tell me the ones they loved had just died.
And I tried my best to comfort them so,
For it just broke my heart to see them so low.
For one, it's been over ten years since he died,
I remember he always tipped me a dime.
He'd cripple across the resturant to me,
Put it in my hand so no one could take it from me.
But we all made it with what life had to deal,
And I know it's helped us all heal.
For my children I am so proud now to say,
Treat a waitress with respect to this very day.
I wouldn't trade all those years of my life,
For God gave them to me so we could survive!
Written by: Thelma Shutters
