I would like to apologize for some negative comments I made recently about Norwood Park. While it’s true I’ve encountered plenty of doors slamming in my face since I’ve been working in that neighborhood, that’s not the case in every situation.

On Thursday I got a call from a guy in Norwood Park; I’d left a “sorry we missed you card” at his place earlier in the week when I stopped by but no one was home. Anyway, we talked on the phone and he was interested in taking part in the study. When we did the screening, it turned out that his wife was the one who was eligible for the interview.

He told me that she worked a few blocks away from where they lived at a pancake house called Menu, which is owned by her mother and father. After talking with her on the phone she said I should stop by the restaurant at 2.15 and we could do the interview then. Her name was Rosie.

I got there just after 1 o’clock. I needed to take my lunch break anyway so I figured I’d get there early and have a bite to eat before it was time for the interview. I came in and took a seat at a booth. The waitress came over and said hi and I asked if she was Rosie, and she said yes, and I introduced myself and said I thought I’d have lunch since I was early. She smiled and said that was great. I had lots of coffee, and eggs and sausage, hash browns, pancakes. I finished eating and read more of “A Farewell to Arms.”

2.15 rolled around but it was still kind of busy (they close the resturant at 3). Rosie’s husband came in and said hi, introduced himself, asked me if I needed anything. I said, no thanks. Rosie said she’d be with me in a few minutes so I relocated to a booth kind of in the corner, and plugged in my laptop, got everything set up.

We did the interview in between her finishing up with the few tables that were left. Then she signed a receipt and I gave her the $40 cash that you get for doing the interview. I thanked her again for her time. Before I could say anything else she said, thanks a lot Rob and there’s no charge for your food.

I left her a tip anyway when she wasn’t looking and I said goodbye before walking out the front door.

And that’s one reason why my job isn’t so bad after all.