Changing Times

I had dinner at one of my old haunts last night. It's the California Pizza Kitchen located near Union Square in San Francisco. I used to go there all the time, usually alone, with my paper to read, and I'd sit back at the back bar on a stool, eat a BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad, and relax for a while. Over time I befriended the waiter who served the backbar-- Noah-- who's a really great guy and I've hung out with him once in a while outside of the restaurant, especially when he's DJ'd at clubs, in his completely other life.

So, last night, it was like old times. I saw Noah working the backbar-- which he hadn't done in a long time-- and I went back there and sat down. I smiled at him and said, "Wow, this is like old times!" and he smiled and welcomed me. We chatted and caught each other up on things. Then he told me that the restaurant was closing next week. Apparently business has been slow. Wow, hard to imagine, it always seems busy to me, and it's located right in the heart of the Theater District. But, more Wow, this haunt of mine, with my friend Noah and my back stool and my many nights of friendly dinners with others, was closing for good. It's a chain restaurant, so there's other CPK's to go to, but this is the one that I love to go to, and this is where my friend Noah works, and this is my haunt at the backbar, and, and, and.... It's sad. Noah said it's a 'blessing' for him actually because he's been a waiter there for too long and he has so many other things he wants to do with his life-- which he does have so many other things going on. I know he'll be fine and he'll enjoy life beyond. But my haunt, and my friendly waiter, will be gone. And that's sad. It's hard to imagine. So strange, the changing times.