So, to give you all a bit of a back story to this:

This guy, has come into the restaurant that I bartend at once every other month or so since we opened up three years ago(as of this week actually). Really nice guy that isn’t in the industry, but understands the things we always wish that guests would be understanding of(not pestering while you’re weeded, doesn’t ask what you’re making a jillion times, not uppity at all, etc.).

Tonight he came in without his wife which isn’t too odd considering they typically trade off watching the kids to get some solo time to be human beings and enjoy a night out. Through the course of service and conversation he tells myself and the Front of House manager, who was helping me tidy and close up, that he and his wife are going through the process of divorce and that he had been having a tough time.

I grabbed his favorite bottle, Blanton’s Gold label, and poured him a shot on us — then a half shot each for myself and the FOH manager. We cheers and talk and sip for a bit before he leaves. As he’s walking out he’s talking with FOH manager and I’m closing out all of my tickets, and see this from his book.

I rush to the front, pull him to the side, and ask if he was serious about that or if maybe an extra zero got tacked on or something. Though $100 tip still would have been nuts. He shook my hand quite firmly and just said “Thank you guys for letting me get some stuff off my chest and not brushing it off or getting uncomfortable. It meant a lot.”

I returned the sentiment enthusiastically and probably asked “are you sure?” 20 or more times before heading back inside to scratch my head and wonder if I had been in a fugue state for the last hour.

TL:DR - Bar Therapy is officially worth ~500/hr. Update your resumes.