05/08/2017
As I stood in this empty cafe today fighting back the tears , I looked back on this part of my journey of life . I remember the day we closed on the sale of the restaurant and how I followed who I came to know that day as respectfully Mr. And Mrs Johnson to this little town called Thomasville. As we stood out back and I listened to Mrs Johnson as she told me how it is and what is expected of me here , how the round table up by the kitchen door was and should always be the Cowboy Table . I knew this lady standing before me knew the ropes around this restaurant and would teach me the way if only I would listen . As I watched that red truck and Mr. and Mrs. Johnson drive away I thought to myself , " I got this ". Well looking back now I laugh to myself and yet I am thankful that these folks had mercy on me and thankful that the Cowboys had worked with cows that gave them the patience they would need with me . As I watched Brice King roll the round table out I thought how I had kept the table where the lady I now call Bonnie had warned me to keep it . Then as I thought of those Cowboys each one by name and what each one ordered , as I had at times become waitress , cook and dishwasher. Wayne likes his hamburger and chips , Brice 5 chicken strips and fries, Dennis likes his chicken wrap and okra , Stan likes 2 over easy , 2 Bacon hash browns and toast , Tom R. likes Big Western Omelet , HashBrowns no toast ,Tommy likes the Cowboy Burger and half order fries, Harley likes popcorn chicken and half order fries and don't bring his coffee until after he eats ! I have to smile at all the lessons I have learned in the Lord through this journey, the times I was so overwhelmed I silently wiped tears away ,other times I was so frustrated I wanted to flip the closed sign around and never come back to open this place.But
at the same time I've come to love the struggles as well as each that has come through the doors . What a blessing to get to know each family , I've prayed for you and played with your children and cried with you as you trusted me enough to tell me your struggles,getting to serve you and becoming to think of you as an extended part of my family. I know I didn't do things as Paula and Buck had done them when they owned the cafe , and I could never fill their shoes . I have to say this has been a great experience for me and I give God the Praise and Glory for allowing me to have been on this ride . Many of you keep asking me to reopen and I may get to do just that , either way I thank each of you for allowing me the opportunity to serve you and I love you everyone ! And either way I will forever have a special place in not only my memory but in my heart for you and this little town . The Flood of April 29 , 2017 will go down in history I'm sure , and it has forever changed the lives of so many families in so many ways . And as the photos that once hung on the cafe walls of "Thomasville Back When " we all will some day look at photos of this flood and say to ourselves " I Remember that flood back when ." And we will unravel the memories for the generations behind us .
