We are one day away from our trip to Cape Town, South Africa.
Unfortunately, my wife was deported back to South Africa in January of this year. She has our two year old boy while our six year old remained behind. I have been "minding the store" ever since. I feel like I have been amputated! She was the well oiled machine that ran the inner workings of our business. She was meticulous in her bookkeeping, inventory control and all that stuff for which I have very little patience nor talent. It has been an incredible struggle. It has also been an incredible experience. I have been very open to my regular morning crowd. Most of them know my predicament. All of them sympathize with my situation.
I don't know if it was conscious but the result of sharing with my regulars has been comforting. It has helped me tremendously in my tough journey this past year. I don't know how else I could have survived caring for a six year old and running a business at the same time. Throughout all the long hours and stress of meeting bill payments I have witnessed the growth of our business in these tough economic times. But, most importantly, I have seen the growth of a very healthy "coffee community" for which our little espresso bar is the major intersection. I am indeed grateful to our customers.
My son and I are departing to be with my wife (his mother) and son (his brother) in little more than twenty four hours. I am very lucky that there are people for whom I have great trust in caring for the shop and customers who will "keep an eye" on things in my absence. I shall miss the day-to-day routine. But there is no substitute to having my family together again for the holidays. Of course I will be testing the Cape Town cafe scene. I've been there numerous times. It will be interesting to note how and if things have changed over the years.
I know in the almost two years we've had the shop there isn't a day that I don't learn something new about coffee. We carry three blends and it is just now that I am gaining intimate knowledge of each of the blend's nuances. I'll miss the tactile experience of preparing coffee. I know this respite will energize me to become an even better barista.
This story is not yet finished.