#90. Celebrate a Year at Houlihans!
Wow. What a year it has been?!
A year ago yesterday (March 5, 2014), I started my job at Houlihans. I was scared out of my mind. After my previous job ended badly, and not being able to find a job in almost 3 months, I didn't know if I could do it. The job came completely out of the blue. It is amazing how God can orchestra things into motion before I could even realize it. About 11 months before, John and I started going to Houlihans on Wednesday nights. It quickly became a hang out spot for a group of us, or even just the two of us. For almost a year, we were there every Wednesday except five nights. That's a lot of long island iced teas and nachos. Because we were there so much, we got to know the staff and the front of house manager, Craig.
Fast forward to mid-February 2014: I drove to and from Tulsa in one day to get a friend from the airport and I was exhausted. I got back around 8pm. I told myself I wasn't going to go that night. I was tired, kinda cranky, and there were other reasons. But I did. Partially because I wanted to hang out with people, partially because I wanted food. Looking back I am glad I did. Our server, Amy, knew I had been looking for a job for a while. After we ordered, she brought over an application and asked if I wanted to apply for a daytime host position. I reluctantly agreed. I didn't want to be bubbly and around people. I was at one of the lowest points in my life and all I wanted to do was sulk and stay miserable. But wit the push of one of my best friends, John, sitting next to me, I filled it out. After our food arrived, the manager, Craig, came over and asked if I wanted to interview. Again, I didn't feel like it. I wasn't dressed appropriately, but agreed. And I got the job.
The first few weeks I had my doubts. I didn't necessarily like the job. I liked the strategy part of seating people, because it became a game of fitting the most people in at once. But I didn't feel like I fit. Then March 17th came. My half birthday. As I was walking up to the restaurant (because I didn't have a working car), I noticed the building was surrounded by fire trucks and everyone was standing outside. Turns out the wood stove caught the wall on fire and one thing led to another and there was a fire in the kitchen. We ended up being closed for about 7 weeks. Seven of the longest weeks of my life.
I remember questioning everything. Why would God let me finally find a job, only to have the place close after 2 weeks of working there. I couldn't find another job because I didn't have a car. I thought Houlihans was the answer because it was within walking distance. But God is faithful, even when we don't know what the next step is. Thankfully, we were given jobs at other properties and still got paid while the repairs were being done.
Two weeks before we reopened, I received the news about my fathers quickly declining health. I was able to take the last two weeks off from the hotel, and visit him one last time. Because of the way it was set up, I was still getting paid during that time. I am thankful for God's timing. While I would love to not have gone through that time, I am thankful He had everything figured out when I didn't have any clue. A few days after my visit with my dad, he passed. I was able to take time to go to the visitation, the funeral, and have time to grieve, before we reopened and I had to go back to work.
I love my job. Within the past year, I have not only become a host, and rocked at it, but I've also taken over reservations, the host schedules, and am now a dinning room supervisor. It is crazy to think back over this year and how much this one job has challenged me in every aspect. I have coworkers that challenge my thinking, encourage me, and respect me.
I love my job and look forward to celebrating many more years.
