late night thoughts

Midnight feels like late night to me, I'm not sure if it really qualifies as officially late night or not. I am home from work, Julie is sleeping before her 4 am wakeup tomorrow.

In the category of "things you never even imagined," I have been back at D'Napoli for three weeks. Three and a half weeks ago Tom (the owner) had a heart attack and almost died. I called Liz (his wife) to see if I could help. At first we talked only through Jessica, our head server, because Liz couldn't make it through too many phone calls.

Long story short, I went back to the restaurant to help them keep things going. Also to help because they had already made arrangements to sell the restaurant.

Tom and Liz are on my mind tonight because tonight was my last night as their employee because the restaurant changes ownership tomorrow. I am not glad that Tom had a heart attack, but I am glad for a chance to restore a partially broken relationship. Despite having to leave on some difficult terms, Tom and Liz remain some of the best people I have known.

I am thankful they took a chance on me when some other chefs wouldn't. They took care of Julie and I in a time when we needed it. And I know they would do anything for us if we ever needed it.
On top of the heart attack, Tom lost his mom earlier this week. But I know what is the hardest for him is that every night for three weeks he has been at home with his new kitten instead of in the kitchen stretching pizza dough and cooking with us. Cooking is at his core, and it is taken from him right now.

I am exhausted. I have worked every day (minus a Monday with the Burdettes) since Tom's heart attack. But for all their immaturities that led me to resign a few months ago, Tom and Liz have created a staff that cares for one another, and I would never think of letting them down right now. As one server said, "if I'm going to work hard for bad money, I'll only do that for Tom and Liz." Sometimes they make me very angry. Sometimes I wonder if they're the most "Christian" people I know.

But these are just tired, late night thoughts.

Comments

[cosby]

thanks droyd. your a good friend.

[TonyB]

I am not surprised by your actions, my friend. I have come to expect that from you and know that your heart of virtue always beats the tally sheet of wrongs. You are a good man. It is an honor to know you...

[b-rich]

Sean-
glad to hear that you had this opportunity, and that you seized it.
School is just about to start up again, and this year I am in arend.
I hope that school is going well for Julie. Peace.

[steven good]

Sean -

I dare say that Yeats was wrong to opine, "the best lack all conviction..." I don't know too many who would unreservedly offer help under such awkward conditions.

How's the writing coming along?

By the way - the reason I don't blog is because most of my creativity gets channeled into sermons these days. I find that I haven't got much left at the end of the week. Perhaps that'll change soon.

God bless.