I wheeled my sleek and beautiful Avenger into the parking lot that sits on the north side of the East Toronto Delta. Wrapping my scarf around my neck and listening to the cheerful beep of the car alarm engaging, I hurried against the cold wind, and blew through the revolving doors that led inside.
Chester, a big burly man that seldom smiles, looked up and his eyes about popped out of his head as he exclaimed "Vicki!!! Are you staying wit uss???"
Feeling a bit like a deer caught in headlights I laughed and shook my head, explaining my short visit.
"ooh noooo! But we miss your smile!!!" says he.
Now I don't care who you are, ya gotta love that. He missed me! Awe......
The Delta was my home for months until I found my sweet condo downtown and moved out. It had been three months since I had been back...the visit was long overdue.
I missed the people that had adopted me there...Chester and the ladies at front desk that greeted me every morning and every evening, Karen and the girls who served breakfast every morning, J the bellhop that would always stop to say hello and make me smile..the cleaning ladies that gave me extra chocolates and coffee...and Habibi and the other bartenders and wait staff that worked the restaurant I ate at every night. I felt like a princess :)
I hopped up onto a barstool at the end of the bar and chatted with the girl who served me a drink...delighted to see me and excited to see Habibi's reaction when he saw me.
Habibi is a tiny man from Egypt...and he's worked that bar for 20 years. He is the best bartender in Toronto...and I'm doing my best to prove that theory! When he laid eyes on me he hurried around the bar and gave me a huge hug...."wwwick!!!! oh my gawd...so gooda see yuuuuu!!! Did you get my messages??? Oh my gaaawd!!!!"
Sitting at Habibi's bar, your glass is never empty and, well, for his favourite ladies anyway....every drink served is followed by "I love uuuu!".. For the men at the bar, he's quick to point out all the "beautiful countries" (code for hot chicks)...
See what I mean? Ya just have the love the guy!
It wasn't long before I was joined at the bar by my work brothas and we ate some dinner...had a few drinks...and a lot of laughs. I still can't believe how fortunate I am to work with such a great bunch of people!
Much to my surprise, about an hour into the evening...in struts Captain America (so dubbed by JL as the muscular and handsome man served in the US army and was a policeman for a good number of years). Another guest that I had befriended during my stay...I think he had been there on 2 separate occasions for about a week each visit. What amazing good fortune to have the pleasure of catching up with this sweet man for a couple of hours. I got to hear about his 2 adult boys and his daughter...the wife he adores... If only I could someday have that kind of love....the kind that survives and flourishes....sigh.... And Captain America promised that I would. In fact he told me to settle for nothing less that a man that puts me on a pedestal, who stands beside me, protects me...never let's anyone say a bad word about me... All I'm thinkin is wow...sigh....
After Captain America went to bed, I allowed myself to be talked into just one more drink with the 3 fine work brothas that surrounded me. I listened to the banter...got in one or two digs myself. I laughed when a couple of them offered to share their rooms..."c'mon! Have a shot! Habibi..get the girl a tequila!!"
Eye roll.... as if....
Hearing my protest and excuses about not even having a toothbrush, Big Jay staggered out to the Front Desk to get me one.
"See?" he said .. "Gif a shupernintendent a prolem an eel fiksh it"
Good ta know dude!
I drove home later on feeling blessed. And I am. I have people that care about me..and I care a lot about them too :)
And I am so gonna book a night there soon so I can park my ass in front of a line up of Habibi's tequila shots and have a serious drink night with the Work Brothas. This excites Habibi too...because the Delta just ain't the same without the lot of us turning his bar into a party now and again.
My my my, can we party...
But I'll save those stories for another day :)
