Summer is a particularly spectacular time in the Pacific Northwest (although, in my opinion, any season in the PNW is spectacular). The sun shines on our beautiful, snowcapped mountains and our lush green landscapes. The skies are blue, the birds are singing, people are all smiles, and love is in the air.
True love is not as rare as some might think. I know quite a few couples who are completely, sweetly, sickeningly, and happily in love after many years of marriage. This is no trick, no quirk of luck or fate. They married their best friend, the person who they couldn’t imagine not seeing or speaking to every day. They respect each other because they love their partners from the inside out, and they never forget that the bond between them is one of respect and mutual like. Love is based on liking.
Love can build from physical attraction, although it is no more than a starting point. I think we’ve all been excessively attracted to someone that, after getting to know them a bit, they suddenly become much less attractive. A person is a whole package…sometimes you give a little bit in one area to get something you value more in another. Why? Because love is an agreement between two people that they love the whole package, not just parts of it.
Agreements, as we all know, are easily broken by humans, as we are all so flawed and fallible. But love says “I will do my best to suppress the stupidity in me brought on by my being human, and I will do everything within my power to honor you and the commitment that I’ve made to you.” Why am I exploring this topic, you may ask? Is something wrong?
No, absolutely not. In fact, just the opposite. Running a restaurant is exhausting, difficult, time-consuming and all-engrossing (yes, and very rewarding). Having 17 employees sometimes feels like running a three-ring circus (full of people that we love dearly). Being an active member of our community takes a lot of time, too. Sometimes, my husband and I forget to be a couple in lieu of the demands of being restaurant owners and community members. Sometimes, our business commitments feel somewhat like the other woman (or man), stealing our spouse away from us (I know he feels the same at times).
My commitment to him is that this summer, come hell or high water (which it seems like we as a nation are in a little of each right now - hell AND high water) that we will enjoy the rites of summer in the beautiful place where we choose to live. We are going to take a hike. Have a picnic by one of our many beautiful waterfalls. Go camping so we can drink Kahlua and coffee while roasting marshmallows over a fire looking up at a starry sky. Because I love him, and because life is short. I won’t miss out on these things with him.
So, my friends, if we are, on the occasional weekend absent and letting our crew run the show, you will have to forgive us. We’ve a life to live as well as a restaurant to run. And I think we can do both well without sacrificing the other. And I’m willing to test that theory. And, hopefully, you will support us in that choice. I so don’t want to be singing some husband/wife variation of “Cat’s in the Cradle” ten years from now. We will respect our commitment to you, as well, by making sure that we have the best people possible manning the ship. Hey, and y’all should sow some oats of your own. Life is beautiful here. Let’s all get out a bit and make the best of it!
So true. I think I eat at your place with my employees more often than with my own wife or family, to the point where at least a couple of your staff have seemed to mistake one of my employees for my significant other! LOL, indeed.
Amidst all of our stress and other ups and downs, we’ve been trying to do things as a family, too. We went camping a couple weeks ago and drove around Mt. St. Helens last weekend for my birthday. Next weekend, we’re going to hit Crater Lake. It’s all stuff we have to do to stay sane and remember why we’re in all this madness called business.
You and Don rock and we are proud to be friends with you, as well as being so close to your amazing restaurant! Take those Sundays off, because really, how good of a Pizza can Don make if he’s all down because he hasn’t had any quality time with you? I need assurance of pizza quality, damnit!
A Leo, aye? I knew there was a reason I liked you!
Happy belated birthday.
We have found that there is a direct relationship between the amount of quality time Don and I are able to spend together and pizza quality. I think we’ll call our next pizza creation “Good Love”.
I was telling Shannon that y’all should make reservations for the boat trip on Crater Lake. The view from the rim is amazing, so I can only imagine that the view at water level is even more breathtaking.
Have fun and I have a feeling the next time I see Dillan he’ll be 6 foot 3. Gee whiz, when did he get so tall all of a sudden??? And give little button nose a big hug from me. I’m at home this week taking care of my mom after surgery, so I haven’t gotten my weekly Stella fix. She is such a little doll baby. You two are very blessed with two sweet, wonderful kids. Enjoy them all you can. Like I said, life’s too short to sacrifice the good stuff.