Last night we celebrated my Princess 1.0’s birthday at a place she chose because they had gluten free pizza. We got the band back together at Pies and Pints in Worthington, Ohio.
I actually had some business to attend to on the other side of town so I arrived at the restaurant earlier than the rest of the Conrad clan. “The Boy” joined us after he got off of work and Princess 2.0 was there too. She just wrapped another year at Liberty University.
Before they all got there, I met a wonderful woman named Cindy. She was a server there. She wasn’t our server, but for some reason she took an interest in me and my “Unscripted” merch. She asked what it meant.
I explained it was my podcast and we tell other peoples stories. I invited her to tell hers.
She disappeared for a while as she worked the tables in her zone. When she came back, she handed me a hand written note. She said “speaking of stories, have you ever heard of Paul Harvey?”
I said “Cindy, I was RAISED on Paul Harvey!”
I love Cindy. Love her passion. Love her service. I don’t know her full story but I know she cared about some guy at Pies and Pints enough to ask about his “rest of the story.”
When she handed me that note I grabbed her hand and said “Have you ever heard his If I Was The Devil?”
She finished my sentence. In unison we said “Now you know the rest of the story.”
You know live is funny. I am not sure why Cindy was working at that place at that moment and on that night. I just know that for a moment, we went back in time and remembered when we would wait for the wisdom of “the rest of the story” from Paul Harvey.
I know that I am who I am today because I heard the rest of the story from Paul Harvey.
It taught me to love and care for others.
His stories of believing in others no matter where they were in life challenged me to do the same.
His belief in people like Cindy who were just doing what they could to provide for whomever she needs to, inspired me to do the same.
Before we left Pies and Pints, I waved to Cindy to join my family for a moment. I wanted my people to meet her too. She wasn’t our server. I couldn’t give her a tip for her great service. All I could offer her was a moment to meet my family, an introduction and a hug.
They are my “Rest of the Story.”
Now maybe she has one too.
AARON CONRAD 