So we've all heard the ubiquitous "I remember you" when travelling to the island. To me, it's always been good customer service, and a way to make the buyer (me) feel a little more special, or maybe to spend a few more dollars. Either way, don't care, just always kind of laughed to myself about it.
Well, I was wrong. Lots of these people have damn good memories of who I am, and I got a case in point yesterday.
Last year, we bought a red velvet cake from Miss Connie at the country western bar (I'm told it was delicious, I don't care for red velvet). As it was not finished until the last day, and she was closed on our way to the airport, our regular driver said he would drop it off. Apparently, he forgot.
When we walked into Miss Connies place to buy banana cake and a chocolate cake this year, she said "I remember you... (I'm thinking, sure you do...) you had red velvet cake last year and did not bring back my plate!
Uh-oh.
She was extemely good natured about it, and my friend paid extra to cover the cost of the plate when ordering the cake this year. To be honest, I did not feel that was sufficient, and needed to do just a little more.
I had our taxi driver (not our usual guy, as I knew he was doing an airport run) stop at value master today, and I bought her six new plates
. When we dropped them off, I even got a marriage proposal! Cake still wasn't ready, as this is after all, Jamaica time. Miss Connie apparently was pleased enough with the plates that I was considered husband material, if only for a moment or two.
Maybe two hours later, our regular driver shows up unannounced at the front desk, and we were told he was there. He had picked up the cake, and bought Miss Connie another three plates while at mega-mart today. Additionally, he made and brougt my wife a warm from the oven banana cake!
I'm never taking the "I remember you" for granted again, as apparently as quiet as we are, people do in fact remember us.