Waitress thought 'mean' old customer hated her for 7 years—she was speechless by what he left for her in his will

Servers are not unfamiliar with attending to cranky customers at the restaurants they work in. Since most of the low-wage workers in the service industry are afraid of losing their jobs, they have to deal with various patrons with politeness and etiquette, no matter what they act like. According to NBC News, in 2007, Melina Salazar started serving a grumpy old customer at the Luby's restaurant in Brownsville, Texas. Salazar always had a smile on her face while serving an old gentleman who was not only a loyal customer of that restaurant but a bit grumpy too. ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​   

He had several demands every time he appeared to dine at the restaurant. But Salazar made sure his food was served hot just like he wanted and kept her calm while the old man made more demands and even cursed occasionally. But the man, who appeared kind of mean towards Salazar, was silently appreciating everything she was doing at his whim. So when the old man, identified as 89-year-old World War II veteran Walter "Buck" Swords passed away, Salazar received a life-changing surprise from him. ​  ​  ​ ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​   

When Swords passed away, he left behind his car, a 2000 Buick and $50,000 for Salazar. "I still can't believe it," Salazar told Harlingen television station KGBT-TV in an interview, per NBC News. Reporter Victor Hugo Castillo's YouTube channel, News Reporter, uploaded a brief interview with the stunned waitress after she received the unexpected gift from a departed Swords. "He was kind of mean with the girls and he wanted everything his way. He didn't care if he burned himself," Salazar recalled to the News Reporter about Swords' food orders. ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​   

Out of all the waiters at the restaurant, only Salazar had the infinite patience to handle a cranky customer like Swords. Salazar mentioned how she took care of his orders every time he visited Luby's for 7 years. Over one summer, Swords stopped coming to the restaurant as usual and Salazar learned that he had passed away in July 2007. Salazar found Swords' name on the paper amongst local obituaries. ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​    ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​    ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​   

However, a few days before Christmas that year, Swords had left behind a humongous surprise for the waitress who served him so patiently for all those years. "I was so nervous and I still can't believe it," Salazar admitted during the interview. I hope all the waitresses out there have all the patience with the customers. Sometimes, they cuss you but just ignore it. Then just smile and be nice," Salazar shared. Swords and Salazars encounter summarized how kindness is both given and received and that's not just a job but a way of life. ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​    ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​  ​