Especially when the year closing has been ... well ... a year!
First it was a picture and a text message.
"Mom, I know that it's too big ... and the rent is too much ... but it looks just like ME!"
And she was right. It did look just like her. A perfect spot for a tea shop.
Thinking to myself "what will it hurt to offer up a little hope" ... especially after the hard year of
re-evaluating life, re-discovering self, and the loss of people who were important ... I texted back and said call the landlord and let's go look at it.
Things happened really fast after that.
What had been a bucket-list kind of dream ... maybe for the years after career-building and professional achievement were over ... quickly took on a heart-beating, breathing life of it's own.
Things were negotiated. Spreadsheets were created. Invisible doors suddenly revealed themselves ... and were discovered to be wide-open! Prayers were answered. And there was even a small miracle or two in the mix.
There were only two really big challenges. Painting the entire inside ... transforming the dreary drab brown into a soft soothing blue. Only a handful of volunteer painters were involved. You see, from the beginning it was decided that no negativity would be allowed here.
Some of us simply weren't as young as we remembered ourselves. And the space seemed to get larger and larger as each day of painting was complete.
One day a friendly angel showed up ... filling the rooms ... and each of us ... with renewed joy and energy. And finally after days and days ... the painting was complete.
The plumbing saga, however, lingered a little longer. Making every possible effort to follow all the rules ... each local and state agency was appropriately contacted ... and each one had their bureaucratic perspective on what was needed.
Meaning ... each contact resulted in new pre-opening budget line items.
If it hadn't been such a nerve-racking series of detours, it would have been humorous. I mean, seriously, the only thing remotely resembling food prep that was going to take place in the kitchen ...was bagging loose tea leaves ... and boiling water.
... and you don't actually need a grease trap when the only thing going into the sink is water ... and tea- flavored water.
All of the water pipes and lines were already in place from a previous tenant who had a salon here. In the end it was just a matter of determining what types and how many sinks had to be installed ... and then finding someone who could hook it all together.
Third time was the charm!
The last 45 days have been a whirlwind of activity. And even the painting ... and the plumbing ... were really just hiccups.
Tomorrow is the day. February 7, 2018. She will officially open the doors ... to a new place,
Abbi's Teas & Things ... a new life ... touching lives & making a difference by serving up nice teas ... and smiles ... to all who enter in.
Yes, Abbi. Dreams really do come true. Happily ever after.
(c) lifelessons-mj.blogspot.com
February 2018
That's it in a tea bag.
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