This used to be my playground

Meil's Restaurant was my very first job.

I signed my working papers at age 14 - so excited to be part of the world! My mother was their insurance agent and they allowed me to come in for an "interview" to be the new bus girl.

I remember being so nervous walking up to the door and asking for Mr. Meil. It was a warm summer morning and my dad dropped me off in his maroon buick - he went across the river and got an ice cream or something from Dilly's.

Michael Meil came out and shook my hand with a welcoming smile. "Let's go sit out here and talk", he said. I recall his voice being strong and fatherly. He led me out to a picnic table out in front of the building and gave me a run down of how restaurants work.

The most memorable moment in the conversation was when he asked me how strong I was because some trays can be very heavy. Without answering, I flexed my right arm and told him I was a gymnast, I would have no trouble carrying heavy trays or large bins.

I got the job and bussed almost every morning that summer. I worked there for several years, the first being the best because I didn't have that true teenage attitude yet.

To this day, I get the same feeling every time I walk into a cafe where Billy Holiday rotates sets with Myles Davis and John Coltrane. The smell of freshly baked peach muffins and snickerdoodle cookies quickly transports me to memories of Fiestaware dishes and learning how to make the perfect cappuccino.

I'm not sure why I thought of all this, but it is a very pleasurable experience to look back on.