I’m a nice little Buddhist guy.  I float through life, blessing everyone.  Very occasionally I might get a tad annoyed … or even upset.

But I would never get ANGRY.  Or so I’ve said.

This morning I went out to breakfast at a very cool restaurant.  The manager was outside, cleaning tables on the terrace, which was open to the sky. We laughed for a minute or two.

I sat under an awning and fantasized about the wondrous yogurt and granola that soon would be coming my way.  I didn’t look at my phone.  I simply took in the flow of humanity and the ancient buildings.

After about five minutes, no one had come to say hi and take my order.

Something started rising in me.  It certainly wasn’t a flow.

After ten minutes my eyes narrowed and my mouth got tight.  Then a man sits down behind me.  A minute later he’s being greeted by a staff member.  Coffee appears.  For him … not me.

“Okay, Bruce.  Stop being a mellow jello!”  I got up and headed to the counter inside.

To the manager: “I’ve been sitting out there for maybe fifteen minutes, and no one has come by!  How come?”

Mr. Manager started talking about a payment difficulty he had with one table.

“I’ll give you a free latté.”  >  “I don’t want a free latté.”

I gave him my order.

I sat down again and felt the fury.  Me (Bruce!) … angry.

I enjoyed the flavours of breakfast.  And then it was time to pay.  As I walked to the counter, I asked myself if I’d said everything I needed to say.  Was I “complete”?  The answer was no.

I told the manager how frustrated I was that someone sitting down ten minutes after me got virtually instant service.

A female server chimed in with “He’s a regular.”

I ended the conversation with “This was bad service” and “It’s not okay.”  The server said “You’re right” and I got that she meant it.  The manager was silent.

***

Hmm … this was a new version of Bruce, something I’ve kept hidden under a layer of niceness.  There’s a time and place for this foaming at the mouth.  I didn’t call people names.  I didn’t swear.  I stuck to the issue.  I said what was true.

I walked home with a spring in my step.  “I’m proud of you, Bruce.”  I’ve forgiven the staff members.  I can feel that. And there’ll be lots of delicious yogurt and granola in my future.