A Unique Gift

Over the years, we have had customers gift us with wonderful items including a poem written about The Bee-stro while the writer waited on her dining companion to arrive, a super cute handmade snowman and a beautiful floral arrangement with the flowers created from coffee filters, several bee themed items, books, dishes, etc.  But the gift created for us on Friday evening was something that made me cry.

Friday evening was one of those rare evenings where we were swamped and guests had to wait for a table.  It was also a night that we started running out of food and had to quit serving earlier than our normal hours.  Basically, a once or twice in a season night.

In the midst of busy, David Young and his wife came in.  They were traveling from North Carolina to visit family in Muncie with a stop in the area to meet up with their niece.  The trio sat at Table 2 (the table closest to the entrance).  As I was running food to another table, David stopped me and asked if I was one of the owners.  I told him I was and he and his wife (I wish I could remember her name), told me how much they enjoyed our little place.  I welcomed them, found out they were traveling, and continued to my task.

I had to revisit the table because they had ordered mashed potatoes and unfortunately, that was one of the items which had run out.  When I went to their table to tell them the disappointing news, I started with, “I hope you still like us when you find out we’re out of mashed potatoes.”  Their reply was, “Oh that’s fine.  No problem,” and made another choice.  Again, Mrs. Young committed on how much they were just enjoying the atmosphere.  After they finished eating, Mrs. Young also commented that our version of southern cooking was “spot on”.  A high compliment from a southerner to this northerner whose family trek from the south happened almost 200 years ago.

After things slowed down and Andy and I were able to leave the kitchen for a bit to chat with our guests, David stopped me to tell me he had written a song for us using the “Our Story” hanging on the wall of the dining room.  Where he had been sitting, he had the perfect view of it.  He said he had taken our story, put it to AI and created the song.

The dining room was still a little loud, so we did the unusual yet not uncommon thing for us and took David, Mrs. Young, and their niece into the residence, and into our bedroom complete with clean clothes on the bed needing folded.  From there David played on his phone the song he had created about our little place.  It was perfect.  Absolute perfection capturing our story, heart, and vision for this little venture.

I cried as he played it and I am not typically a person who cries easily.  David promised to send it to us, which he did the next day with these words:

      “I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt congratulations on creating such a beautiful love story, life, and restaurant. Meeting both of you and spending time at Honeysuckle Hill Bee-stro was an experience we will always cherish.  Your journey, from high school sweethearts to realizing your dream of Honeysuckle Hill, is truly inspiring. Jodi’s vision of a place where every meal feels like a gathering of friends has been brought to life in the most wonderful way. The warmth and love that permeate your restaurant make every visit a special occasion…”

Even though I wanted to pay David for his creation, he refused.  When I asked if it was okay to use it for marketing purposes, he replied, “It’s your song to use however you would like.”   I am just blown away by the Young’s kindness.  What we do is just what we do and we couldn’t do it any other way.    And when people “get it” and appreciate, well, it’s surprising and rewarding.  Then to write a song about it, well, that’s just a little extra honey on the biscuit.

So, if you watch our weekly menu videos, you will hear part of David’s song, “Honeysuckle Hill” as the background music.  When you hear it, think of the kindness of David and Mrs. Young, two travelers who found us on Yelp while traveling through our area and who left an amazing mark of goodness on people just trying to do their best.  I know I will. 

Honeysuckle Hill 2

0:00

In a nutshell, our story's a high school dream

Andy and Jodi, young and keen

We talked of dreams, desires unseen

Built a home on Honeysuckle Hill, serene

Jodi wanted a place where friends would meet

Not just a restaurant, but a family retreat

After three decades, made it complete

(Sweet, sweet love)

[Chorus]

(Ooooooooooh)

In a home where love's always real

(Ooooooooooh)

We built our dreams on Honeysuckle Hill

(Ooooooooooh)

Every meal's a party, every heart we fill

(Sweet, sweet love)

[Verse 2]

With daughters by our side, we opened the door

Honeysuckle Hill Bee-stro, memories to explore

Built from love and dreams we swore

In the woodshop turned restaurant, and more

Andy kept bees, Jodi cooked with care

A place of peace, where life's wear and tear

Fades away in the laughter we share

(Sweet, sweet love)

[Bridge]

Though our daughters have moved away

Their spirit's here, in work and play

Generations come, memories stay

In these walls, love finds its way

Sky blue eyes, golden soul

Heart on your sleeve, makes us whole

In this bubble of beauty and hope

We find the strength, we learn to cope

[Chorus]

(Ooooooooooh)

In a home where love's always real

(Ooooooooooh)

We built our dreams on Honeysuckle Hill

(Ooooooooooh)

Every meal's a party, every heart we fill

(Sweet, sweet love)

[Outro]

(Ooooooooooh)

Thank you for letting us live our dream

(Ooooooooooh)

May your hearts be light, your spirits redeemed

(Ooooooooooh)

In the love and peace of Honeysuckle Hill

(Sweet, sweet love)