What was the best compliment you have ever had?

  My children were about 6 and 7 years old, we took them to a Marie Callendar’s restaurant, which is a nice sit-down type of restaurant similar to Denny’s or IHOP or maybe a notch above those in quality. The hostess seated us near a table where two elderly women were about halfway through their meal. They appeared to be in their late 60s or early 70s.

  As we were halfway through our meal, the two ladies were finished with theirs and were leaving the restaurant. When they passed our table on the way out, both of them stopped by my chair and one of them asked if they could speak with me. I was caught off guard, but I told them of course I would listen to them. 

  It’s been over 20 years, so I don’t remember it verbatim, but I’ll paraphrase.  The lady said to me, “Sir, when you first entered with your family, we were a little dismayed because seeing small children, we have been in this scene before with unruly children of strangers, we thought that our meal would be ruined by screaming and hollering, running around, throwing food, fighting, and other kinds of carrying on. We even said to each other that we should move to a different section or even end our meal and leave early. However, we wanted to tell you that your children are the most well-behaved, quiet, nicest, respectful and pleasantly polite young people we have seen in a setting like this. Your entire family is lovely, and instead of an unbearable example of children, yours has made our lunch just as beautiful once you sat next to us as it was before you arrived.”
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