Chick-fil-A, Miss Anne, and a Little Inspiration
“I choose to write about people whose values I respect and who do life-affirming work; my pleasure is to bear witness to their lives.” — William Zinsser, Writing About Your Life
Stories draw us in and evoke emotion and, hopefully, action. As a writer, I look for stories wherever I go as I observe people. (See Jun 17.) Once in a while, though, I have the pleasure of being with someone who is willing to give up their story to me and tell me a bit about their life. Sometimes you just need to ask…
My husband and I were passing through Bowling Green, Kentucky, on our way to Nashville when it hit us—we had a hankering for a chicken sandwich. We’d been listening to an audio book narrated by the author, a comedian, and he mentioned Chick-fil-A a time or two. It must have triggered something in us because the first chance we got, we exited the freeway and pulled into a Chick-fil-A parking lot. (See? Stories can evoke action!)
After we received our order, a woman wearing a Chick-fil-A name tag that said “Anne” came over to us. I had been watching her earlier as she meticulously wiped down surfaces and mingled effortlessly with other chicken-crazed patrons. She immediately intrigued me. Anne was older and not your typical fast-food restaurant employee.
She was a classy-looking woman. Instead of the usual red company polo, Anne wore an expensive-looking blouse. I’m guessing Bloomingdales. Her hair was perfectly coiffed, and her makeup was impeccable. She was well-accessorized and had a warm, friendly smile.
I watched as she moved around the room, interacting with some young families and chattin' it up with a group of construction workers at one of the tables. They smiled at her. She waited on them and called each one “honey.”
Then she arrived at our table. “Can I get you folks anything? Would you like a refill? Do you need some sauce?” She said in her sweet, southern drawl.
After bringing us some ketchup, my bold husband said, “You don’t seem like the kind of person who normally works a job like this. What’s your story, Anne?”
She smiled wide and leaned in. “Well, honey, they call me ‘Miss Anne.’ And I’m 91 years-old.”
Jaw drop.
“Wow! You do not look—or seem—91,” I said.
“Well, my oldest daughter is 73.”
Shut up.
Anne told us she was a widow and had been working at Chick-fil-A for the past four years. She loved it. All the “kids” (her fellow employees) were “so sweet” to her. As a younger woman, she worked retail at a dress shop for 30 years. When the store was bought out and relocated to Chicago, she stayed in Bowling Green and went into banking for the next 22 years. Miss Anne liked to work. She enjoyed people and wanted to be a help to them.
That was obvious. Her countenance and her very presence drew us in. She was genuine. And joyful. And positive. We knew it, the construction workers knew it, and the wise hiring manager at Chick-fil-A recognized it four years earlier.
When we finished our meal, we thanked Miss Anne for sharing her story. I then left to use the restroom, and my husband got a selfie with her like she was a celebrity. She is a celebrity of sorts—only better—and I wish I could have heard more of her story. How much life she had lived! I bet she has gems of wisdom to share and a book-worth of interesting, sad, hilarious stories--and everything in between.
Our encounter with Miss Anne has had an impact on me. It’s caused me to do some self-reflection. I feel inspired by her. If I make it to 91, what kind of presence will I be? What impact will I have? What impact do I have now at 59?
These are good questions to ask. They remind me to pray for self-awareness. I want to honor God and others with how I interact with them. I also want to do my work with joy and intention, trusting God for help and inspiration when writer’s block invades me or when I receive criticism.
So today, I will write with Miss Anne in mind. I may weave the essence of her in my current project because she would make a memorable character, don’t you think?
(By the way, we thought to stop back in at the Chick-fil-A to spend a little more time with Miss Anne on our way home, but—aargh!—it was a Sunday.)
*End of Blog Plug: If you haven’t ordered my Southern historical fiction novel LaDelle & Jubilant, I hope you will. It was released on Amazon two weeks ago today! You can find it here: LaDelle & Jubilant.