For over twenty two years, my daily ritual was getting up at 2:50a.m. For seventeen of those twenty two years it was seven days a week. It took almost of year for my brain to accept that this ritual was its' new lifestyle and was not going to kill me. The last four years in business, we decided that we needed Monday as a day of rest. We still awoke every Monday morning at 3:00a.m., read the paper and had a cup of coffee in our own kitchen!
There were times we felt we were the only people awake at that time in the small village of Baltic but after a few years, I realized "we were not alone". I usually made it downstairs to the restaurant by 3:30-3:45a.m. The main kitchen for Fred's News was upstairs as part of our home. We had the big prep island, the butcher block table and the massive stainless steel gas stove, used to pump out all those potatoes, pies, muffins and everyday specials at Fred's News. By the time I headed down the stairs, those wonderful aromas were fast on my heels. Certain days of the week, there might be someone waiting for me to arrive. Our friend from Delia's Bakery, delivering grinder rolls, the Norwich Bulletin delivery person, Sunday mornings you might have a few cars waiting out front,filled very hungry people, after a night of partying, or prior to his marriage, good friend "DeLaval", after dancing all night! If the state troopers were waiting for a cup of coffee, it discouraged the Saturday night party goers from coming in. Thursday mornings, Waste Management, also liked to arrive at 3:30a.m. This allowed them to back into the driveway and retrieve the dumpster without blocking traffic on West Main Street. Their driver, our good friend Paul, would keep me company as I brewed the first pot of coffee to begin the day. There we days that Paul also helped carry product down the bulk-head from the early morning US Foods delivery. Forget the coffee, that alone would wake you up! It was always a race to see if we could be ready by the time the regulars came in. Dave and Doug would arrive anytime after 4:45. Strict orders from management, "come in the back door!" Every morning they'd get their first cup of coffee and begin the ritual of wrapping the silverware in napkins. Dave still calls us everyday since we have left Connecticut. This is the new morning ritual we look forward to. He also meets Doug some mornings for coffee at a small cafe in Franklin. During warmer weather, Glen would arrive on his bike shortly after 5:00a.m. That early morning ride from Hanover was quiet and peaceful. Many times Glen would pick a handful of wildflowers or perhaps some beautiful flowers grown by his wife Solange. Their glorious colors would grace Fred's News counter for days. Shortly after that "Doc" would arrive from Scotland, usually in his old VW van. He would sit with Glen and have his first cup of morning coffee. These few individuals would begin conversations opened to everyone. At Fred's News, not a person, place or thing was sacred. The rowdy morning crew set the tone for the day. People would arrive, join in and enjoy. One never knew when they might just become the "victim". This form of harassment was unique to Fred's News and for all to enjoy. We would explain to people, "Once you are "attacked" you're in!" I thoroughly enjoyed when a new face showed up. The crowd would calm down, size them up and decide, "do we or don't we." It must of been some keen sense of intuition, because the majority of time their decision was right on.
No morning would be complete without a visit from the "farm boys". They usually called in an order around 4:30a.m., just to make sure they would not be inside as the first customers arrived. After a night of milking cows and cleaning barn floors, they were a sight to behold and really not the fresh scent of morning dew! Once in awhile one of the hired guys would stop in and pick up the order on his way to work at the Spielman Farm. I was very grateful for those days.
Many have asked "Was it boring all those years?" Absolutely not! Everyday was new and exciting. "Was it a challenge?" Life is a challenge and far from mundane. If you are passionate about your lifestyle then let the games begin!
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