It is one thing to be told you talk a lot. It’s another to be nicknamed “Chatty Cathy,” but having a deaf couple says to you, “You talk too much!” is award-winning. It’s like a blind person calling you ugly. Yet, it’s a skill I have not only perfected, but I pride myself on.
A couple of years ago, my daughter, Makenzie Rae, would hostess on the weekends while attending the Village Charter High School. One day, a deaf couple came in, and she sat them in my section. They were seated next to one another at a four-top table, facing my row of booths. Unknown to me, they were silently watching me as I worked my section. They watched me walk back and forth, here and there, up and down my row, talking to myself and everyone else I made eye contact with.
All of a sudden, I saw the lady motion with her hand for Makenzie Rae to come over to her table. It immediately got my attention. “Had I forgotten to bring them something?” I thought. But, I was right in the middle of taking an order at another table, though, soI figured I’d let her handle it for now. I knew if it was something important I needed to attend to, she would inform me. So, I put in my order, and I walked over to the table.
Makenzie Rae was still at the table. Apparently, the couple could read lips, if you spoke slowly and were in direct view, so they struck up a conversation about me. It seems they have been watching me for the last 20 minutes, and they couldn’t help but noticed that my mouth had not stopped moving the entire time! They were curious to know if I ever stopped to take a breath?
To which my daughter informed them with a smirk, “No! Not even in her sleep! I know this first hand because she’s my mom.”
As usual, they got a good hearty laugh on me. Even though sign language giggles aren’t nearly as loud as sudden outbursts, I’ll take what I can get. They were incredibly nice, and, years later, they still come to the restaurant looking for me and my “chatterbox” mouth. So, I have even brushed up on my signing, so I can tell when they are talking about me.
The flip side of that coin would have to be the day I proved I could get paid to talk. This was the day a very small pig flew over my house just in time for my husband to witness it.
I was checking my emails one day, and I noticed a letter from an unfamiliar address. The memo read: “Will you come make us laugh?”
Excited by just the subject line, I clicked on it to see what it said. It was from a local resident of a Villages’ community that was in charge of the entertainment for her “Northeastern” group. She and some of her lady friends knew me from Billy’s Cafe, and had heard I occasionally did stand-up. They were interested in changing their usual band venue, hoping that me spreading some laughter would end their monthly dinner/meeting on a happy note. She asked if I was available any one of a specific evening, and what would I charge?
I was elated. I read the letter two more times before it actually sunk in. Yes, I had been invited to several different functions as a guest speaker, comedian, author, etc. before, but I had never been contracted as a PAID entertainer. Generally, I would just ask permission to sell my joke books after my gigs, and we would call it even. Networking and making the giggles echo is my main mission. You asked. I’m there. Now this time was different. I emailed her back my normal response, to which she replied that her community had strict policies that did not allow any sales or solicitation. However, she would gladly pay me $100 (along with dinner with the group) for an hour or so of my time. Plus,(off the record) I was welcome to make arrangements with any and all residents interested in purchasing my books after the show.
Wow! Glorious! I couldn’t wait another minute to print the email, and tack it to my refrigerator exactly at my husband’s eye level. I truly felt like a kindergarten student that just got my first smiley face from my teacher on a picture I drew.
Talk about a reason to make my head swell. I was actually going to be paid to talk. And so it was, I had a new job title to put on my resume. I was beyond excited to see where it would take me. Not to mention, I got to boast to all my haters that I really am that good!
Laugh on. Peace out!
Lisa DeMarco is a waitress at Billy’s Cafe and a columnist for Villages-News.com
