My husband and I decided to try a local eatery tonight since we'd heard good things about it. We've also been sent some fundraising flyers where this restaurant donates percentages of its proceeds to charities at certain times. We were pleasantly surprised by the food and the service and we'll go there again, especially when there are fundraisers we want to support, but also just when we get a pasta jones.
The parking there leaves quite a bit to be desired. There were no spots available except on the end where a big truck was parked over the line, taking up 2 spaces. It was pouring down rain. The driver of the truck was sitting there talking on the phone and surely witnessed my struggles as I had to do quite a bit of maneuvering to fit at all. It was difficult for me to get out but my husband could hop onto the curb. He went over to the truck and asked the driver if he would pull over so I could get out of the car. The driver refused and said "I was here first". By then, I managed to crawl out to catch the rest of the conversation. When my husband said "I only asked you to do me a favor" the guy said "You have a lot to learn old man". I swear I never thought I'd live to see such disrespect. It makes me cry when I think of it.
So in we go to the restaurant and the staff is wonderful and friendly. The food is good. We leave and there's another man, this one a gentleman coming in. It's raining again but this time it's sunny too and there's this big, bright beautiful rainbow. The man holds the door and cheerfully says "Don't miss the rainbow." He then comes out in the rain with us and points it out, smiling and proudly displaying his discovery.
And that, my friends, is our neighborhood in a nutshell. I think most people fall between the horrible, grouchy, rude guy and the overly friendly jolly man. But we take the good with the bad and in the end, it's the rainbows that we remember.