Stop…  

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted a restaurant review, or anything for that matter. I have a multitude of reasons why and I won’t bore you with any of them. Despite my lack of posts, dining and attempting to live my life to its fullest has been at the top of the daily to-do list… Or at least I was under the impression that the latter was.

For those of you who remember or care, I had promised – on multiple occasions – that a review from me and a group of my friends of Mr. Rain’s Funhouse was on its way.  Did we dine there? Yes.   Did most of us find the food mediocre but the service exceptional? Yes.   Mediocre food and all, the evening was perfect. And in hindsight it was friendship that made it so.

A wonderful friend of ours had invited a small group of us together to catch up and grab a bite. We dined. We sampled one another’s dishes. We laughed at old follies and shared future plans. We hugged and kissed our good byes that evening. It was beautiful.

Breathe…  

Weeks passed by and the friend who planned the evening messaged me with: “when are you reviewing the restaurant?”, “I can’t wait to read what you thought.” & “I really enjoy your blog, Tammi…”

He meant ever word. He’s that friend who wouldn’t have said it, if he didn’t legitimately mean it. As I type that last sentence, I am reminded that now I have to refer to him in the past tense. Sadly, my friend has passed away.

Reflect…

I got TOO b u s y. Too busy to write something as simple as a blog review so that he could read it and comment. Too busy to insist that he RSVP immediately & promise to attend my holiday party so I could see him and his rosey faced smile. Too busy to give him a better and tighter hug that last time I saw him.  Too busy to tell him that I was too busy for a friend.

Embrace…

I am a believer in finding beauty in the spirit of those who pass away. My friend was one of the most reflective individuals I’ve ever known. That evening that we dined out I remember that he looked really happy. He laughed and shared random tid-bits of knowledge about things only he would know. He gave me a wonderful hug and shared that he had a great evening and thanked us for coming. He meant that.

As I reflect upon that evening and who he was as a person, his life inspires me to truly live my life to the fullest, stop allowing “too busy” to define me and do what he did so well in life:

Stop…               Breathe…               Reflect...               Embrace…

That’s my review Bill. I hope you would have enjoyed it.