My first offical day open went very, very well. I was a little late arriving to the cafe so my plan to make my gateau au chocolate fondant in the morning for the day did not work out. I had just enough time to finish taking out the boxes from our tea deliveries (note to self, take care of stuff like this the night before!) before my delivery of salé for the lunch menu arrived and I needed to put everything away. Elle arrived with the fresh fruits and veggies for the day and then quickly ran back out to the boulangerie for our daily bread run and pick up a lovely tarte aux rhubarbe we ordered the night before. We chopped, and sliced and washed and spun and laughed and worked together like a team. It was so great.
Then right at 11am my first customer arrived. It was my friend, Lisa. Very fitting that Lisa be my first customer because she was there from the very, very beginning on that day we went to Sunday brunch at the café and I saw the sign that said fond de commerce à vendre.
Lisa is a writer and as you know writers need a constant stream of coffee/tea and sweets to keep the pen moving. She's found her spot, in the window. What I call the pink table, my favorite table cloth I've made so far. Lisa wrote a lovely blog about her visit and you can read about it here. And she snapped some candid shots of me getting things prepared for the day. It was a lovely way to start the day. I have her first euros she spent on her Yogi Chai. I must figure out how to frame that. :)
I had not seen the day come to an end. Working in the café is so different than the jobs I'm used to. I was tired when I got home. It was a physical fatigue not a mental one. I remember days when I'd get home from my office job where I had spent hours in front of the computer, I felt brain dead and wanted to do nothing but shut down. But last night, I felt mentally energized. This must be what it's like to work and live your dream. My feet need some time adjusting and I need to invest in some good hand lotion. I washed lots and lots of tea pots yesterday.
Today, is my day off during the week. Thursdays are what I call Max and Mama days. We got up early (he is my alarm clock) and had breakfast and then headed to the Prefacture de Police and applied for our liquor license. I called and got Internet installed in the café. I ran across Paris and got my "lost" package of fabrics which are destine to become table cloths. I even got to take a nap with Max which was so lovely. I know that Thursdays will become a day I cherish from now
There is a huge mound of laundry that needs to be folded. Julien has graciously started in but I better go and help so that maybe we get to bed early tonight. Which means before midnight for once...
À demain from the café... via Twitter, bien sûr.
You're so thoughtful to take time to let us know how your first day went!
Posted by: materfamilias | April 04, 2008 at 00:52
eek, sooo exciting. i'm so happy for you. :) i love your friend lisa's pics of you, you look so cute in you chucks and threadless tee and (handknit?) scarf. you must post more pics of the cafe when you get the chance. from what i can see, it look absolutely adorable.
Posted by: Sandra | April 04, 2008 at 01:34
I have not visited in quite awhile. I am excited for you on your cafe. I also cannot believe Max is a year old now. I started reading when you were pregnant. I understand missing your mom. It has been 11 years (this April 17) and I miss her so much. I think mothers and daughters are connected in a special way that never leaves us.
Posted by: Beverly | April 04, 2008 at 02:43
What a great first day. And too fun that your friend was the first customer!
Posted by: Tsoniki | April 04, 2008 at 04:46
So very exciting! I can't wait to read more!
Posted by: yaiAnn | April 04, 2008 at 10:44
You really know how to take a good photo, I'll say that. I don't look at all like someone who had just fallen out in the Place d'Italie and bruised her entire body. I look like a relaxed writer enjoying her pot of tea. Merci! (Georges will LOVE this picture I think!)
Remind me to ask you about those shelves in the windows if you're getting rid of them... I'm wondering if they would work as bookshelves in my home office?
Posted by: The Bold Soul | April 04, 2008 at 14:28
P.S. I'll bet you can crazy-glue a 1-euro coin to a pretty card or on your carte de visite, and put that in a frame? It's really symbolic... put the rest in the bank so you can pay the help and buy more Yoga Chai tea!
Posted by: The Bold Soul | April 04, 2008 at 15:00
Oh, your first day sounds like it went so wonderfully well! Congratulations on living your dream once again, Aimée, and I'm really, really looking forward to coming by and spending time at l'Oisivithé... I wasn't able to this week as I've been swamped at work, mainly with another side thing I've been working on voluntarily, but I've been staying up far too late at night and I'm really feeling it today.
But I can't wait to see your salon de thé in person! I'm SOOO looking forward to it.
Have a great weekend!
Posted by: Alice | April 04, 2008 at 16:19
I'm soooo glad that l'Oisivethé's début was such a happy one. And I'm so happy for you that your new gig feels like "home". It's such a blessing when things fall into place, and everything just clicks. Best of luck with your first weekend!
Posted by: Margaret | April 04, 2008 at 16:19
what a fabulous first day! sounds like a great time :) can't wait to hear more!
Posted by: gleek | April 04, 2008 at 16:32
My eyes are tearing up a reading this and Lisa's blog. "This must be what it's like to work and live your dream" gave me goosebumps. And what a good friend to help capture your first day - and so eloquently!
I have sticky-noted the address to my Paris Street map;-)
Posted by: aloha no | April 04, 2008 at 17:13
Oh, it sounds like everything's coming along perfectly!!
Posted by: Veronique | April 04, 2008 at 19:05
Hi, I'm "de-lurking" to say Congratulations on your new café! It looks really nice. I love the decor. I'm from the UK but next time I'm in Paris I'll be sure to pop in and try your homemade gâteau au chocolate fondant!
Posted by: Lucy | April 04, 2008 at 22:25
Aimee - I’ve been reading blog for at three maybe four years maybe. You’re living the dream of so many people. When I'm told how brave and adventures I am for moving from Alabama to California I can’t help but think about you. The bravery of moving to a another place in the US were the laws and customs are basically the same does not compare to moving to France with your French husband, finding a job, having a baby and buy your first business. Over the years I’ve cried many happy and sad tears when reading your blog. Thank you for letting us be voyeurs into your life. I’ve put your café on my list of must visits for the next time I’m in Paris … we’re planning a trip for next year.
Posted by: Manda | April 05, 2008 at 05:58
what an exciting time! congrats on your opening!
Posted by: C | April 05, 2008 at 07:12
Aimee, congratulations!!!
I have been following your blog for a couple of years now and always meant to comment but never did. You are the "everywoman" you represent women everywhere. You are the wife we can all relate to, the sister we are, the mother we just became, the woman following her dream. You are amazing, I really admire the person you have become in the past couple of years, you truly exemplify strength and resilience. I have a 16 month old son and I could relate to all your posts about motherhood, even the one about mastitis. I even bought the schwinn jogger from Amazon that you recommended on your blog, same red color, it arrived last week and we really like it. I have never met you and yet I am so proud of you, so proud that I had to post this comment, even though I never post comments online.
Choo Kah Hab Ni Dah Aimee!!
Posted by: Catherine | April 09, 2008 at 07:30
So glad your first day went well. (I'm finally catching up on my blog reading at 2:44 am! I should be sleeping, but baby number 2 is not letting me sleep and is kicking my belly at full speed!)
Posted by: Robyn | May 17, 2008 at 08:46