Destiny seems to have had influence in finding my occupation, as a bartender.  Some speak of occupations as “callings.”  My professional life definitely seems to reflect this.  In 1999, I was looking for a job in the Morro Bay area.  I had a friend/mentor that worked at the Cayucos Tavern.  His name is Matt.  I told him I had heard that Legends, in Morro Bay, was looking for someone to cover a few shifts-a-week.  Matt said, “I know Lou, (the manager at Legends), let me give him a call.”  He did, just that…right then, and right there.  He hung up the phone, and said, “You start tomorrow, at 6pm, Lou will be expecting you.” I was so grateful, and his response simply was, “No problem, man… we are bartenders, its kind of a brotherhood-thing.” Those words changed my life, and a simple job inquiry turned into a calling.

Bartending, as a calling brought with it, so many blessings.  Not only did bartending give me a livelihood, it gave me a social outlet (for someone with social anxiety, that is huge!)  It gave me friendships and lifelong connections.  Bartending also gave me purpose. I never looked at my profession as, “clock-in-clock-out-kind-of-situation.”  I have been honored to be a professional, friendly, neighborhood bartender.  I am proud to serve my community.  I’m not flashy, I don’t flip bottles; but I do have fun, when I can, in my professional environment.  My clients depend on me for certain responses that they seem to want, or need.  I do my best to anticipate those needs.  I aim to provide my clients with the atmosphere that can be fun, jovial, and/or tranquil, solemn, and healing…whatever the occasion calls for.