Good morning!Some Fridays we talk about medicine, most Fridays we don’t.Today, I need some advice. I’d love to know what the correct answer is here.I did not ‘HIPAA-proof’ this newsletter (i.e. all names are real) because it occurred in a Gen Z/millennial space and those people don’t read this newsletter. A matter of fact, not sure anyone does.Last Saturday started out like any other.We had a great run, I then watched Super Friends, and tried to drown out my last hour of intermittent fasting with dark coffee.Then we head down to the cool part of town for an earrrrly 11:15 lunch. Today, we’re trying Columbus’s newest hot spot and watering hole, Budd Dairy Food Hall. This place has everything.I sprint out of the car and past dozens of day drinkers (smh) into this modern-day food court.Everything looks amazing, but Krissy and I want to be plant-based so bad, we’re trying hard.We go up to Boni: Filipino Street Food and order 2 Tofu Bowls that look great (and tasted even better). There’s a lot of sweating going on in a small kitchen behind the register. We tip 20% (comes into play later) and we’re told they’ll text when it’s ready.Let’s see what else they have.Well, lookie over here. Poor thing. The Cheesecake Girl is all alone in the corner. Everyone else has a decent-sized line. What a wonderful opportunity this could be to support a small business. I make my way over to the shiny glass and the $9 Layered Red Velvet and Oreo Cheesecake in a jar is practically jumping out of the showcase next to the iPad register thingy.Not plant-based – maybe I’ll bring it to dinner (outside) where we’re meeting a couple of good friends?Or, maybe I’ll eat it.This is a win-win. Delicious looking dessert and we’re providing a public service to this upstart young company, even though I’m taking it on the chin ($9).I saunter up to the counter as the cowboy hero, tip my cap, and say, “I’ll take the Oreo in the cup, please.”The young woman (maybe THE actual Cheesecake Girl, maybe a stand-in?) reaches into the glass case and in the same motion, without adjusting her feet, places it down on the counter in front of me.She then twirls the iPad in some contorted double backflip and it’s now staring me right in the face.I’m immediately presented with the option of tipping 25% (2 smiley faces), 20% (1 smiley face), 18% (face with flat mouth), or 15% which I think was a frowny face, not sure. Then there was a non-judgemental smaller Custom Tip box in the lower right-hand corner where you run the unlikely, but not impossible, chance of tipping $100 instead of $1.00.I look up hoping she’s embarrassed by the whole situation and wiping down the glass case or something. Nope.She’s staring through me dead to rights, left hand on the iPad waiting somewhat impatiently to flip it back.I just need to decide if I’m going to be the 25% hero or a loser. And, I’m already $9.00 in.What’s the right answer? I’d love to know your take.Please be gentle, I’m still licking my wounds over the license plate newsletter a couple weeks back.david |