crazy busy

I think every single post could be titled “crazy busy”.  How is that for creativity?

We’ve been: cooking, baking more bread, two family reunions, yard sale this weekend, spring cleaning (yeah, a season late on that one), theatre camp, helping my Mother-In-Law get her place ready to sell, and cleaning my parent’s business out.  I’ve also been running 4-5 times a week trying to get in shape for a July 10th 5K.  I feel tired looking at the list knowing there is still the daily to-do going on as well.  The big thing on my mind is my parent’s business.

This is the last week my parent’s own their restaurant.  It’s sold, signed, and July 1st is no longer theirs.  I can not tell you how awkward this is.  Most, if not all, of my 30 years have been spent in a restaurant…this one since 1985.  It was past time, though, and I am proud of my parents for knowing when to say they just can’t do it anymore.  The way you make money in a small business is by doing the work yourself.  When it gets to the point that you have to hire out more help, your profit margin falls and you have to stop and question if it is worth it anymore.  Combine in the stress and then you really have to ask yourself again.

The building is so old, on the town square, and full of stuff.  Familyphotos adorn the walls (yes you can go have lunch and see photos of me as a child as well as photos of my children…imagine that.)  There are family heirlooms on shelves, and thirty years of “stuff” stashed here and there.  Yes, it is like a second home to them, but where they work all the time.  Anyone remember the old Intellivision game systems with games like Asteroid and Burger Time…we found our old one in the back of a cupboard.  How about the engine and parts to an old VW Bug, it’s up in the top of the place, the body apparently wouldn’t fit through the door and is stored elsewhere. 

Business paperwork for 25-30 years worth of business, check. 

Furniture that used to be in their home, check.

One of my great-great-uncle’s dulcimer that he crafted when nearly blind, check.

Dad’s hole-in-one trophy, check.

Toys for my children, check.

Books from my childhood, check.

So this last week or two has been a bit like moving for them, again.  If you remember they moved last fall into a house half the size of what they had.  Hopefully they find room for the treasures and are able to let go of the rest. 

Plus do you know how odd it will be to not just stop in there on Sat. morning after the farmer’s market to visit with dad?  Or to time my errands so we can stop and visit with mom during the slow time from 2-4.  Not that they are going anywhere, I’ll still be able to stop at their HOME and visit them.  In many ways this feels stranger than them moving out of their house…they were only there ten years.  This place has been around since I was five.

I will be cooking at least one or two more meals a week.  At least once a week we were asked to stop up for a meal, and on occasion  we would stop up anyways.  Oh, and the leftovers we would take home.  It will be awhile until I miss the chicken, it has gotten kind of old, really.  I will miss the slaw, some of the sandwiches, and the fish.  I guess we can always go up there and have a meal though.

I will miss the place.  The new owners are great, though.  Very nice people, keeping it pretty much the same, especially to start out with.  I wish them well, and I know we will be in and out for a meal here and there.  Small towns hate change, I hope the community treats them as well or better than they have my parents.  It’s a labor of love running your own place and having a community that appreciates your services and what you bring to the table (ha, get it…bring to the table) helps immensely!