A few things I learned

There were a few things I learned these last two weeks.

First I will say that at my very last batch of gelato on Sunday August 13 I expected to feel very sad. As I held the button waiting to switch it off I took a breath. And as I saw the machine go slow until a full stop I stared at the blade with the remaining gelato. And I didn’t feel a thing. It was almost like in that show Foundation where Brother Day goes on that crazy pilgrimage to reach a cave. And when he gets there he realizes he has no soul. It was just a bunch of nothing. And in that split second I felt exactly like that. I let out a hmm to myself waiting for something, then my brain slapped me upside my head and said “hey moron you aren’t done making gelato for good. You are just done selling it.” I felt a sigh of relief and gave a strong pat to my gelato machine like I would a little kid for a job well done.

With the long lines at the store (something that was embarrassing to me since I don’t want to waste people’s time) I took the opportunity to just go out and talk to people. And wow do we have diverse set of customers. The Rachel Maddow lover, the writer, mechanic, Republican, contractor, pharmacist, marketing strategist, single mother, born again Christian, hipster, accountant, nurse, lawyer, professor, cashier, and fireman. My point is that we appeal to so many different types of people and that’s awesome. I’m very proud of that.

Meditation is one of the greatest tools I’ve ever used. In my past I have gone to medium lengths to learn various meditation methods or techniques. And we approached our very stressful decision on what to do going forward I began to spend time each day meditating. It got me through those last few weeks and even helped me to be free and enjoy it all. Meditation has also allowed me to be freer in my playfulness towards life. It has also helped me to have more compassion and love things deeper. I mean I will always honk at some idiot hugging the left lane. It is not so easy for me to say you should meditate. I have used those apps in the past, but after some “professional” training I wouldn’t recommend them. If you are very stressed and feel like you will explode then by all means use it. But to go beyond that, seek out a place or center that is professional. Without meditation I couldn’t have made it through those last few weeks and enjoyed them.

Lastly, I didn’t expect people to care about our business as much as they did. I just didn’t think we were around long enough for that reaction to be viable. Like when Pearl Oyster Bar was closing down Jenny and I went as many times as we could, but it had been around since like 2002 or whenever. I also get sad but when a show like Six Feet Under ends. But look I always say that you have to put yourself out there as much as you can. You burn bright, but eventually you will burn out. That is always better than becoming a Starbucks.