Get It While You Can

Kate & I reached the final week of market setups.  Over six years of parking the car, unloading the tent, the grill & coolers, lighting the grill, making sure the flame doesn't go out, & serving customers piping hot grilled cheese sandwiches.  

It was hard to believe that by that last Saturday night of March, we'd pack up the grill, coolers & tent for the last time.  

Exciting & scary at the same time, Kate & I had been dreaming about this particular moment in time for over two years- maybe longer.  

It was a busy week leading up to the final setup. There was Civic Plaza & OB on Wednesday, then SDSU Thursday, La Mesa on Friday night, followed by Poway early Saturday morning & then we catered a birthday party for Joselyn’s friend, Dylan, later that afternoon.

Four full days of setups & breakdowns in which we sold & served close to 350 Cheezers.  I was proud of that week’s grocery forecast, as we only had a handful of sourdough slices left.

That Sunday, Kate & I took a deep breath, relaxed at home with a few drinks & watched the Men’s NCAA Tournament on TV.  Afterall, “Munch Madness,” a grilled cheese with nacho cheese sauce & chips on it was the Cheezer of the Month for March.   

“Well, it doesn’t look like we’ll be in there this week,” Kate said.  

“That’s alright.  They’re getting pretty close,” I said.

“Yeah, & we already have both rents paid, so we’re in a good place right now,” she said.

We were.  And, I felt like we’d earned a little bit of leisure time.  That Thursday, with the Escape still packed with the grill, pop-up tent, Dirty Chips & other dry goods, I went camping & hiking out at Culp Valley in Anza-Borrego State Park.  I just did a one nighter out there & walked around the high desert & back into a hidden waterfall near a palm oasis.

“Can you at least be back around 5pm?”  Kate asked.  “I’ve got some high school friends in town & they want to meet us at Tony’s Bar for happy hour.”

So, I hurried back home the next day after the awesome hike at Maidenhair Falls, parked the car & biked over to Tony’s.  I caught my first glimpse of my big Mad Munch logo sign hanging up at our storefront, surrounded by the “Pacific Coast Blue” Kate & I had painted over a year & a half ago.  

Only now the bottom was painted to match & the new windows, front door & alcove were now all exposed to the street.  I stopped on my bike, across the street to take it all in.  It looked amazing.  Our dream shop looked just like the rendering that we’d submitted for the City’s Storefront Improvement Program.

I was ready to celebrate after that.  I didn’t plan on all of my friend’s in OB joining me at Tony’s though.  

“Surprise!” they all said when I walked in the door.  Stunned & a bit nervous, I walked around & shook everyone’s hand & thanked them like I was running for office or something.

“I figured we’d celebrate your birthday a little early,” Kate told me.  “Since, we’ll probably be busy at the shop next Saturday on your actual birthday.”

Just like when she got me that Beastie Boys album on vinyl months ahead of my birthday(when we quit our day jobs).  It’s better to get it while you can.