this conversation made her day

reader, though the baron tries very, very hard to maintain virtuous eating habits, she is occasionally unable to resist the temptations of certain fast food establishments. those of you who are personally acquainted with the baron know that taco bell in particular holds her in some kind of trance: when she's had a long day in the yard, when she's on a road trip, when it's mid-week and there's nothing at home for lunch, the baron will stop at her old friend, taco bell.

her favorite taco bell meal, for many years, had been two bean burritos with no cheese, with lots and lots of fire sauce. lately, though, she's made a change to the seven layer burrito. she orders it without the sour cream, cheese, or guacamole (which makes it essentially a bean burrito with rice and vegetables), and reader - it is good.

in the baron's experience at her local taco bell, the men and women who work the drive through are typically unenthusiastic about their work, following a pre-written script with little to no vocal inflection. the baron sometimes wishes that she and the drive through employees could break through their respective roles - seller, buyer - and have a real human connection, but then, she feels that way about most commercial transactions. in the baron's mind, she is always looking for a way in, for a way to connect with the person across the counter, to see him or her as a real human being.

yesterday, the baron stopped by taco bell and had this conversation with the young man at the drive through:

-(deadpan) welcome to taco bell. what can i get for you today?
-hello. i'd like a seven layer burrito with no cheese, no sour cream, and no guacamole.
-(deadpan) uh. huh. so you want a...
-seven layer burrito?
-(deadpan) right. no cheese, no...
-no sour cream, no guacamole.
-(deadpan) right. so you want a... a four layer burrito?
-no i- what?
-i said you want a four layer burrtio?
-yes, i guess i do.

the baron had momentarily forgotten that the man at the other end of the speaker box was an actual person, with an actual personality. and he was looking for a way in too, a way to connect with the person at the other end of the sales transaction. it was a nice feeling, knowing that someone else out there was reaching, and she was glad that he reminded her. and it made her four layer burrito taste that much better.