Jump Around
by Tanner Olson
writtentospeak.com

It’s 7:30 AM and the Nashville airport is playing Jump Around by House of Pain. 

It’s too early for that song. 

Based on the faces of every single person I have seen this morning, no one wants to jump around.

I’m in line to get coffee and a breakfast sandwich. Every time I fly out of Nashville I go to the same coffee shop and say hello to the same workers. They’re friendly and awake, but not too awake, which can be off putting.

Years ago, while working at Chick-fil-A, I was taught to match the customer.

If they’re groggy, you’re a little groggy.

If they are happy to be there, you are happy to be there.

You follow their lead.

I’m on my way to the Midwest for the weekend. Milwaukee and then Wausau, Wisconsin and then Gurnee, Illinois. It’s a weekend of events with my friend Blake Flattley. For the last few months we’ve been hosting Evening of Music and Poetry.

They are nights of art and hope and rest. We do not ask anyone to jump around.

I’m next in line and the man behind the counter just corrected himself.
While taking the order of the customer in front of me, he accidentally pressed the wrong button on the computer and said, “I’m sorry!” 

But he caught himself.
 
“No, you know what? I apologize. I’m not sorry. I made a human mistake. I apologize.”

The man laughed and smiled and said, “Well, there ya go!”

I called an audible and changed my order at the last second. I know, you didn’t see this coming. Neither did I. I hope this drastic change is the most surprising part of my weekend. Instead of ordering a breakfast sandwich I ordered a blueberry muffin to go along with the coffee. I’ve never gone wrong with a blueberry muffin. Plus, I hear that blueberries are brain food and I need all the help I can get in that area. 

I glanced at the worker’s name tag.

Jayson.

Jayson poured the coffee and handed it to me.

He grabbed a blueberry muffin, tucked in a bag, and gave it to me with a big smile, saying, “There ya go! Have a great day!”

I didn’t move.

I hadn’t paid yet.

I love getting food for free. Especially blueberry muffins and coffee.

“Uh, I’d love to pay before I go,” I said, before quickly correcting myself.

“I mean, I’d like to pay before I go!”

“Oh man! I totally forgot. You could have just walked away, dude.”

“I could have, but I would have felt sorry for doing so.”

Jayson smiled.

“Thanks, bro.”

Men like to change up what we call other guys.

Man. Dude. Bro.

Had I stood there for another sentence I would have been called Captain.

I paid and walked away.

The airport is now playing Hold On by Wilson Phillips.

You know the song.

“Don't you know?
Don't you know, things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day
Can you hold on for one more day?
Things'll go your way 
Hold on for one more day”

I’d rather be told to hold on than to jump around.

Especially in the morning.

With hope,

Tanner Olson
@writtentospeak

About the Author

Tanner Olson is an author, poet, speaker, and podcaster living in Nashville, Tennessee.

He is the author of I’m All Over the Place, As You Go, Walk A Little Slower, and Continue: Poems and Prayers of Hope.

You can find Tanner Olson’s books on Amazon.

His podcast is The Walk A Little Slower Podcast with Tanner Olson and can be found wherever you listen to podcasts.

Tanner Olson travels around the country sharing poetry, telling stories, and delivering messages of hope.

You can follow Tanner Olson on Instagram (@writtentospeak) and Facebook where you’ll daily find encouraging words of faith and hope.