Perseverance
My Diesel love story almost didn’t exist. Back in 2007 I was 21 years old and dreaming of opening my own café. Thing was that I had never worked in one and didn’t know the first thing about it (or even if I really liked it), so I figured I’d better work in one first. At the time my availability was awful and I didn’t know any one who worked there. I forgot what I drew on the back of my application, but I am sure it was not raising any eyebrows. What I did have however was perseverance. I pretty much stalked the place, coming through inquiring about my application status a couple times a week. My caffeine tolerance was quite low back then and I remember drinking chai’s and coffee and getting so lit I could barely stay in my seat. After a few weeks of this, I finally got a call back from my future roommate Casey who was politely trying to tell me that they were not interested, which turned into the opportunity I was waiting for as I proceeded to keep Casey on the phone for the next 20 minutes until they agreed to give me an interview, most likely just to get me off their case.
I arrived at Diesel with my hippest shirt and ordered a black dark roast coffee, thinking that would score points from the get go. I was with my girlfriend at that time who came along expecting the interview to last about 20 minutes. I was brought to the back and met one of the owners Jennifer Park and Casey and proceed to have what I believe is still the longest interview in Diesel Cafe history. I emerged 90 minutes later, armpit sweat down to my hipbones through my brown shirt, unsure if I had the job. Lucky for me I did. They called to say that I was hired on my birthday and my involvement with Diesel, Bloc and Forge has been a true gift over the past 13 years.
From the care, attention to detail, sense of humor and passion of Tucker and Jen blossomed a true community of some of the most spectacular people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I am not going to try to name everyone because there are too dang many of you! When I started working at Diesel the majority of folks had been there pretty much from the start of the café and I felt fortunate to kinda get grandfathered into that crew of wonderful people and become a part of the next wave of stellar folks.
Jeez, I definitely grew up during those first few years at Diesel and have so many great memories. Whether its was working the Somerville Theater movie rush doubling the bar with Tucker, to getting outrageous at the prom, to being even more outlandish at the Halloween parties, coming up with outrageous puns and stupid gags, I had never had so much fun or felt so cared for then being part of the Diesel crew. Folks were so accepting and supportive of me. I will never forget the crew showing up at my band’s first show, tolerating full 90 minute Jimi-Hendrix sets on the café stereo, giving me a pass when I was late to work after being very drunk and very much leaving with a co-worker I had a crush on the night before and just generally caring about me. I have never met a group of people that leave me smiling on the inside after I talk with them more than the folks at Diesel.
I have never met a group of people that leave me smiling on the inside after I talk with them more than the folks at Diesel.
If I had to put my Diesel love story in a polaroid, it would look like this: the old Friday night crew (and the whole host of others who would roll in after close) by the pool tables, Sam Adams 6 packs open, sweat still on the brow from moping the back of the store, feeling accomplished from being slammed and making 1,000,000 hot chocolates, laughing, feeling free and listening to each other share what’s going on in their lives. No better feeling. Nothing close. That has been what has kept me coming back as a customer and employee all of these years.
I feel so grateful to be involved in this wonderful company and community. The impact of my time with this company and group of people cannot be contained in 1,000 words and most likely cannot fully be conceived by myself. Thank you for taking a chance on me and for allowing this love story to be written. I love you all and look forward to the years to come.
Diesel Love Stories 