Friendly Subway

Today I went to Subway for lunch. They have this great deal, that I am sure you know about called "sub of the day." Each day it is a different sub for 69baht. What a deal!! I can't hardly pass it up..my biggest problem is that I am awfully tempted to go in every for a different sub flavor. 69baht ever day adds up though, especially when I know I could get a bowl of perfectly good noodles for 20baht right outside my office. What makes the subway experience unique to any other place though, is the little man who works in the parking garage just above subway. He is as commonly little as any other Thai person, but some how the combination of baggy kakis pants and tucked in long-sleeve shirt with a golden rope draped from his shoulder to one one of his...I don't know parking school badges...makes him look so tiny. I am always intrigued by the amount of pins he has on his shirt. Clearly there must be an extensive training program to become a parking garage attendant in Thailand. Well deserved I say for as hard as he works to get my car parked perfectly. I am sure at ear shot of my little car coming up the ramp he is standing up tall, straightening his shirt, putting a big smile on his face and preparing himself to help me park my little powerless steering car. What I don't get is usually...my car is one of the only cars parked in the garage at that time of day, so rather than having to parallel I just pull straight into a spot. Still, this little man feel the need to get my car parked perfectly aligned. To him, parking my little goldie car is his art...so oblige and perfectly park my car in it's lonely place. I smile and nod looking for the approval of the park before I walk away. He with his hands on his hips nods and grins as if thinking "I have once again saved parking spot from the disaster of a inexperienced parker." Today after eating my lovely sub of the day, I sneaked back in the garage quietly to see if I could just simply drive off..no need to hassle the little man. I was not surprised when he was waiting at the doorway as I walked back in, ready and anxious to help me pull away perfectly. Kelly Crocker was with me today to laugh with me at the predictability of this experience as I narrated the entire event (of course). As we drove back down the ramp I said be sure to look up as he waves and watches us drive away. Seriously? Yeah seriously. We had a good laugh as we waved him goodbye for the day. To me it's more than just the "Sub of the Day" it's a chance to smile with an old friend.