It was fulfilling and fun but honestly, it was so much work that I couldn't see doing it for long. I opened the place with 2 friends and we ran it for a little over 7 years. Then my dad took ill. I sold my stake in the business to my partners and left to care for my parents, until my dad was feeling better. That was 2 years ago. 17 years in the biz and I'm not sure if I really want to go back. I have 2 pretty good job offers available from friends but now that I'm out, I don't know... I kind of feel like Peter Gibbons in Office Space, "We don't have a lot of time on this earth! We weren't meant to spend it this way!" That life is rough, man. That's a shame about your friend. Mismanagement is the #1 restaurant killer. I've got stories that you wouldn't believe.