The Company I Keep
Because I just retired, I am acutely aware of other people who are retiring. There are many. Some are strangers that are connected to me, remotely, through some social media or other. A few are people who I have known since school; that makes sense, since they are my age. My age is retirement age.
Businesses that make a difference
Last Tuesday, I had dinner at Rudy’s Café in Somerville. That was January 14th; it closes January 19th. Restaurants come and go. This one has been in Somerville as long as I have. I can only assume that the owner, Rob Halpin, felt that it was time to retire. I can relate to that.
One of the things that I feel pride about is that a significant portion of my real estate clients remember me. That’s what I hoped for; to be a positive force in their lives, worth remembering. Many, maybe most people do not remember who their agent was after a couple of years. I have been tickled pink when I run into a client five, ten, twenty, or thirty years later and they’ll say, “Are you Rona?” When I answer, they’ll then say something along these lines: “I’m so-and-so and you helped me buy my house in xx town.” Chances are, I’ll remember them and remember something I negotiated for them in the process of the purchase. (I have that kind of memory, still!)
The reason this matters is that the sign of a good business is that the work is remembered and appreciated. I feel that I accomplished that. I am grateful.
Back to Rudy’s Café…I think Rob Halpin and Rudy’s Café will be remembered, too.
Rudy’s opened in 1982. When I went there this week — in its last week in business — I realized that I had that kind of relationship to this business. Rudy’s was part of my life story.
I remember who I was with and what I ate the first time I went to Rudy’s (probably 1983). I went there, on and off, throughout my years here. It was in our regular date-night rotation for years. We considered ourselves regulars.
When we went on January 14, 2025, I was blown away by what I saw. We arrived near opening time. By the time we got our appetizer, the place was full. The people next to us were doing the nostalgia thing, too. I overheard snippets like “bachelorette dinner” and “baby shower” and the mention of people’s names.
By the time we left, there was a wait list, and the waiting area was packed; remember, it was a Tuesday and it was cold. Were it summer, the line would have been out the door. To-go orders were flying, too.
I am pleased that Rob and the great staff are getting a good send-off. I hope the diners tipped generously!