Dear McAlister’s Deli,
I want to introduce you to my Grandma Virginia. She’s the coolest grandma ever and her hair gets a category of its own. We live in a small rural community and your closest deli is about 45 minutes away.
For the last several years my grandma and I have had a mutual agreement that when I go to Jefferson City, Mo., I must bring her back some potato soup. If she finds out I was there and didn’t return with the soup, I get scolded, and well… a scolding from your grandmother is just something you don’t want.
Grandma is the matriarch of our family and will probably outlive us all. But when she gets sick and down you know she has to be really sick.
Several weeks ago she came down with COVID.I made a trip to Jefferson City that week and brought her back some soup. Her face lit up when I walked in the house with that delivery. She was so excited she wanted more, so I put a plea on Facebook for someone to bring her some if they were going to be in Jeff City. Sure enough, your potato soup was delivered to her doorstep within hours.
She swears it’s your potato soup that helped her bounce back from COVID so quickly. Who am I to argue? Never argue with your grandmother.
Two weeks ago my grandma buried her son due to a senseless murder. She will turn 84 this month and she’s buried two children in her lifetime. The grief I watched her experience as she said goodbye to him one last time is something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.
As she grieved, I made a trip and brought her back your potato soup. Again, her eyes lit up when I walked in the house with that delivery. As a matter of fact, she asked me why I didn’t bring her more than two bowls. My bad.
Last week my grandpa was so sick they weren’t sure he was going to make it through the night. I couldn’t stand to watch my grandma’s heart break so I did what felt right – I made a trip to Jefferson City and brought her back some potato soup.
I offered to make potato soup for her myself, but she has made it clear that it would be a complete waste of time because it just wouldn’t taste the same. Noted.
You see, your team members may think they’re just working a shift to get through the day, but it’s far more than that. You may think you’re just putting potato soup on the menu because it’s a sellable product, but it’s more than that.
When sick, your potato soup was a healing agent for her body.
When her heart was broken and she couldn’t shed another tear, your potato soup was a healing salve to her soul.
When she nervously sat and waited for a phone call fearing the end was near for my grandpa, your potato soup was a peaceful comfort to a weary heart.
Tell your team thank you. They did far more than serve potato soup. Much, much more.
Sincerely,
A grateful granddaughter