Once a something always a something

By Ori J. Lenkinski October 16, 2011 | Edit

Do our previous jobs get embedded into our DNA?

“You must be the type cast of a waitress,” my friend says casually as I sit back down in my chair at my local coffee shop/office.

It has just happened again. It happens all the time and yet, it always catches me by surprise. I went to pee and on my way back the inhabitants of the next-door table leer at me, checking me out head-to-toe, and finally demand the check.

“This is completely unacceptable,” says the frizzy-haired, furious lady. “We’ve been waiting for like ten minutes.”

They have clearly made a common mistake of thinking I am on duty at this trendy neighborhood establishment. My friend clearly thinks that saying I am the type cast of a waitress is a good thing.

I politely tell the angry customer that I don’t work at this coffee shop and that I’ll be right back with her check. Our two tables have a little chuckle about the awkward moment and then go back to our respective conversations. Inside, I begin the same shame-stricken self-searching I go through every time this happens.

I stopped waitressing eight years ago but I kind of believe that this woman, and all the other angry, impatient restaurant-goers who ask me for cocktails, the check, another fork, can see my past-server self beneath my present day freelancer self.

As a waitress I was flustered, flushed and totally frustrated most of the time. Regardless of the establishment – though I served my longest term as a brown rice slinger at Josie’s on the Upper West Side of Manhattan – I hated that job. I hated walking up to people, interrupting their conversation and begging them to get an appetizer with their main course. In my eyes, there is nothing worse than being empty-bellied and having to watch people shovel in plate after plate of delicious food.

Do we emanate an aura of our previous positions?

Even though I’m not a waitressing anymore, is part of me still a waitress?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g12f7uDIGZc[/youtube]


Ori J. Lenkinski was born in Canada, grew up in Philadelphia and attended McGill University in Montreal. From there, Ori moved to New York City to pursue a career in dance. Among others, Ori performed with Noemie Lafrance/Sens Productions, Nai Ni Chen Dance Company, Axis Danz and Monica Bill Barnes and Company. She acted as a program director for Galapagos Art Space in Williamsburg Brooklyn, where she initiated several programs that continue to run to this day. Ori's love affair with Tel Aviv began in 2007. In Israel, she has danced for Kolben Dance Company, Rachel Erdos, Ariel Cohen, the Israeli Opera and others. She has performed and taken part in festivals and workshops in Africa, Europe and North America. Shortly after arriving in Israel, Ori began writing for The Jerusalem Post, specializing in dance, fashion and design. Ori’s writing has been seen on www.danceinisrael.com, www.telavivster.com, www.danceusa.org and in Dance Magazine. She is mildly allergic to pineapples.