11/10/2024
This was a milestone in my parents life they finally saved enough to own their own restaurant building, moving Trade Winds to this location from originally down the street.
All my dad wanted was a patio so customers would have a cold beer and eat their chinese food outside. It was such a pain for us because we had to now waiter inside and also outside where everyone could see you. But not many people did sit out on the patio except my dad. My mom would be like a broken record player telling him what a waste of their money it was.
My dad didn't seem to care, all his life outside kitchen breaks meant squatting in the back kitchen door staring at a depressing ally way beside a garbage dump. With his patio I remember seeing him sit outside during slow time with the sun on his face staring at the cars going by drinking his coffee feeling proud that this was his.
He took a picture of this picture and sent to us, it sits on his coffee table in Vietnam now. He doesn't remember who took it but in the picture you can see the whole family on the patio.
The patio didn't bring us more customers but it did make my dad happy. When the restaurant life is your daily grind anything that can bring joy is worth every single penny.
