There were rumours that it was going to happen but I was holding out hope that the rumours were wrong.
Slice of Life: 3/2
Ever since we moved to Bronte, about eighteen months ago, we have frequented The Mixed Grill at least once every week - either as a family or with a couple of friends. We met Claire's first boyfriend and his family there for dinner; celebrated my last birthday with a girls lunch; watched Stanley Cup playoff games; they catered our first of the season hockey party at our home; weekly family meals and out of town guests have been treated to meals at the Mixed Grill.
It was such a welcome part of our weekly routine. Elva or Lee-Anne would see the truck pull in and by the time we sat down there were two chocolate milk, two Sprite, one Sauvignon Blanc and one Bloody Caesar all made up for us. I'm surprised they even asked what we wanted to eat. Louis, Claire and I always chose something off the specials menu and the rest always ordered the exact same thing: Chloe had regular fries (rather than their regular offering of sweet potato fries); Cole would reluctantly have a pepperoni pizza (reluctant because they didn't have wings or a burger on the menu) and Caden ALWAYS ordered Lamb Lollipops with regular fries.
There has always been banter about the kids having their first summer jobs there at the restaurant, looking forward to summer lunches and evening drinks out on the patio, negotiating who would be allowed to ride their bikes when the weather gets better. The Mixed Grill had become part of the fabric that is our life.
The banter is over.
We had been in with the kids on Thursday. I saw the owner, Tim, and he said nothing (I guess our being regular customers didn't count for much) but Elva and Lee-Anne, who had also not been told, officially, knew the end was near. We exchanged numbers and I got Lee-Anne's work schedule at another local restaurant.
To have it confirmed driving by this morning was heartbreaking. Really.
Change is inevitable. But sometimes it stinks.