Cool Hand Luke

If you don’t know, I work at a café called Provence in Nashville. (Pronounced /pro-vonce/) It’s a French café that serves really good bread, pastries and food.  And, of course, we have really good Intelligentsia coffee.  If you’re in the area, you should check it out. The one in Hillsboro Village is the best—plus, I may be the one plating your food or making your drink. (Or washing your dishes.)

I worked a full-time job at the print shop of an insurance company for over a year. It was really a blessing for a time. It was pretty good pay and really good benefits. It’s just what Brandy and I needed then, but I had no time to play music or tour.  I started to lose myself, and I felt like I was living for a job that I had no passion for.  Maybe you’ve been there?

In March of 2010, we decided to step out in faith and try music again. The plan was to tour as much as I could and get a part time job to supplement my income. That’s how I ended up at Provence. It has been good for the most part. I don’t get paid much and I don’t have benefits, but I do get a lot of free bread and pastries and my boss is amazing about letting me off for shows. Now we don’t trust in my paychecks and benefits. We pray a lot more for provision, and I think that’s good—to remember where it’s really coming from.

A few months ago when I got to work I discovered that the store I was working at was being closed in two days. Bummer. I really liked working at that store and I was comfortable there. I’m a creature of habit and I don’t necessarily adapt to change all that well. Ironically enough, I’ve always enjoyed touring, which consists of constant change and no routine whatsoever. But that’s not what we were talking about was it?

My store closed. So, they moved me to the main Provence in Hillsboro Village. It’s a lot busier and the clientele and co-workers are not nearly as friendly. To be honest, I’m still not quite adjusted to it yet but it’s fine. The problem is that I’m not getting many hours there.
 
Since I’ve been recording the new record [if you don’t know, I’ve been recording a new record], I haven’t been playing any. That means my only income has been Provence. It’s getting tight financially, so I asked my boss for more hours. He has started giving me some hours at yet another location.
 
This location is called Petite Provence because it’s little. It’s in a nook on the first floor of an office building downtown. Our only customers are people who work in or around the building. I usually have a big rush of people wanting coffee in the morning and then a big lunch rush. Other than that it’s pretty slow. I work by myself and I usually have a lot of down time from 9-11:30am.

So, what does this have to do with The Civil War??? Well, I’ll tell you…later.

TO BE CONTINUED