I’ve been looking at my diary, my road map, containing all the things I added to my TLBCS (The Little Bleu Cheese Shop) To Do list when I set out in February to simply speak to our accountant and sell cheese at the Rochester Public Market. Happily, I review all the things I’m proud to have crossed off that list, and the remnants from a busy seven months of pure enjoyment.
And still – things to check off. Larger, more concrete things, like decision-making around for instance … do I really want to consider having a TLBCS On Wheels. Food trucks are so hot right now, as evidenced by the Food Network’s 2011 call for votes on your favorite food truck – you pick the city, state, region and place your vote. Check it out http://www.foodnetwork.com/the-great-food-truck-race/index.html.
A cheese shop on wheels, as a first step – rather a primer, I suppose – before my brick and mortar existence. I can load her up, drive to events, not worry about a tarp or a tent, and even sleep in it if I absolutely have to! Big plus is not paying rent and utilities. Or, dealing with a landlord. I can more easily decide to “move my business” too – wow, how easy that would be. Lot’s of options exist. Let’s imagine her (because you know it would have to be a female vehicle… Not sure what that means and frankly it sounds kind of weird) all tricked out, jazzed up and ready to greet eager cheese lovers and TLBCS fans. Oh yeah. Great visual.
So, all that by way of saying that I believe in being faith-filled. It’s worked for me. Pick your religion or don’t; I believe that faith transcends all religions and that it's there for those who don’t subscribe to any of it. What do I know? Except that I know that it works when you know what you want, and then you politely place your request with God… the Universe… any deity you honor. And then you wait. You wait and you listen. You listen for the response because lots of times you can’t see it… the big neon arrow may be in for repair or bulb replacement or the power goes out and the path grows very dark.
Listening takes you to a different place and you have to work a little harder. It may come in a conversation you have one afternoon in your accountant’s office. Or at a farm market with a guy who has a fascination and interest in your ideas. And don’t forget all those late night, midday or early morning conversations with yourself, wherever you were, doing whatever you were doing. Listen.
From a brief conversation with that guy in the Union Street Bakery at the Rochester Public Market – a cavernous indoor space with great light and well-worn hardwood floors – a great old market dame holding open to you all the sights and sounds and aromas of all she offers… coffee, and breakfast sandwiches, pizza, freshly baked goods (right there), meat products and cold cuts, incredible authentic Mexican food. From that first meeting the ground got solid, my feet got planted and I began to run.
Originally Posted September 2, 2011 on The Little Bleu Cheese Shop Web Site