My birthday was a week ago, and by now the wrapping paper is long thrown away on my 38th year. I'm not quite sure who I will be this year, but I suspect this is going to be a year of personal growth as another ring appends itself to my trunk.
I'm sitting here at Court Square Tavern after a long night of non-stop movement from the moment I walked in until when I clocked in. No breaks. So many people came in, and I believe most of them left happy that they had walked in the door.
I was grumpy for so much of the night, but yet, sitting here now, I'm so pleased I got through it. I feel bad for my co-worker, who bore the brunt of my grumpiness. She's one of my best friends, so I think it worked out okay.
I was grumpy because I'm 38 and I'm at a point where I have to decide if this is what I want to do for the rest of my life, or if I want to move away from it. I love this place, and want so much to be here in some capacity for the rest of my life. I love our history, I love that we're unique in Charlottesville, and I love that people leave here happy.
No matter how grumpy I am during a shift here, I always wind up happy when the people leave and I get my turn to sit at the bar while quaffing a Spaten. No, my life isn't quite what I thought it would be at 38, but it's not bad. I make people happy, and I do my best to make sure my children are taken care of, in the limited way I have in that capacity.
(that last sentence wasn't artful)
And now it's time to go. I have a full day ahead of me tomorrow and I am pleased that one particular thing will happen because it was unexpected.
