“Your husband owns a restaurant? How romantic!” Romantic? Really? Lets see, I am apart from the man I love 12-16 hours a day leaving a deep void within me. If I go to the restaurant to see him I inevitably end up bussing tables, running food or washing dishes. Can I just say that washing dishes in a restaurant is NOTHING like washing dishes at home? However, if these acts of service help facilitate the fulfillment of a dream then so be it. It is the pursuit of a dream that brings romanticism – not being the proprietor of a restaurant.
Each day in the life of a proprietor brings a new set of challenges and disappointments – vendors who have the inherent inability to do what they have been hired and paid to do; lack of support pledged from institutions, friends, neighbors and co-workers. Not all of them of course, but enough that it boggles the mind. Regardless, just when you have about lost all faith in humanity it happens. A total stranger walks into the Tap Exchange, loves the experience and then blogs about it; or someone posts the most amazing “tweet” (often with pictures) about what a great time they are currently having in our establishment. That is just amazing to me.
These patrons made a conscious effort to spend their time and money at The Tap Exchange and actually followed through on that decision. What a concept! It was not a veiled attempt at fulfilling a pledge of support due to obligation, but completely unsolicited support. Community, if you will. This not only restores your faith, but reaffirms that you are on the right track. This is, without a doubt, what keeps a proprietor in pursuit of a dream. This is, dare I say, romantic.
