Going into my junior year of college I wanted to get a job in my college's bar district. I was hoping it would give me the thrill of going out without blowing all of my money every weekend.
Little did I know I would meet and become close with some of the coolest and real people I've ever come across.
It takes a special kind of person to work the "graveyard shifts"-- our shifts normally go from 9 p.m. - 3 a.m.
Yeah, I know what you are thinking, who in their right mind would voluntarily want to work those hours?
Well, some would call them high functioning alcoholics... I call them my best friends.
Working in a bar that is 87% run by employees and their passion for having a successful bar showed me what it means to work for something you love. It also showed me that to be successful it takes an army. It takes an army of people that have the same goals and stick by each other.
The employees of this bar aren't just co-workers. We are a family. We are protective of one another, we look out for each other, quite honestly I've never had a job that I enjoyed as much as I do being at the bar.
I also never imagined that I would become such good friends with the owner.
The owner of this bar is a rare form of human.
He is a glass half empty, pessimistic, blunt, passionate person.
Those are my favorite types of people because they don't sugar coat anything. That's what it takes to run a bar with a bunch of flakey college students.
As employees we have documented some of our favorite quotes from our boss
"Multiple co-workers have gotten engaged, so there's still hope for all of you."
"I actually run a daycare."
"Who put on f***** rap music?!"
"Grab another peroni."
*Cardi B is playing* "This isn't Tubby's, turn that off."
"If you cry on Fake Patty's day, I'm going to tell you to F**** off."
"You're all replaceable."
"This is a dictatorship, not a democracy."
"Fits like a f****** glove."
"Don't let my douche bag brother touch anything."
"No sugar, too much sugar."
These statements are said out of love, because I've heard several times that he refers to us as his "kids."
Finding a close knit group of bat shit crazy people is something few get to experience and many wish to have.
Eighteen63 has become my favorite family.
To me, none of ya'll are replaceable.