(no subject)

[moominmolly]

Today, I would like to sing the praises of tip jars in cafes. Tipping is a practice that confounds me all the time: how much do I tip the valet, or the cab driver? Why can't I tip the maitre d' if he's particularly awesome? I love the ease of eating out when I'm in France -- if I love the service, I leave some extra money, but nobody particularly cares if I don't. It is for this reason that I adore the grubby, forgotten-looking jar that sits behind the register on cafe countertops. Nobody points at it, most people don't put anything into it, it just sits there, and if you're really happy or feeling flush, you can stick a bit of cash in. You may not agree, but I think that putting money in a tip jar is pure thanks and pleasure.