More Than Meets the Palette

FullSizeRender copyWorth the re-posts…almost two years ago!

As a co-owner of a successful Cruise Planners Franchise and Wine Specialists and Freelance Blogger for “name renowned [by a few of our friends, followers and favorite vineyards]” WineQuickie,  I was reflecting on a recent trip to Paso Robles that my husband, Chris, and I took with a wonderful group of friends. I came away with a notion, a new outlook on life, and the most amazing thought that there may be more to our wine adventures than meets the palette. When I decided to leave a comfortable financial position as a cruise vacation planner with a major cruise line, my intention was to travel the world with Chris and write about all of our wine adventures. Little did I know that I would be able to do just that and so much more. I’ve been given the opportunity to have a piece of cake, eat it too, and now share it with others!

Years go by, opportunities come and go, decisions have to made, doors open and close, but when people come into our lives, I see it as a blessing in disguise. For those of you who know me, you’ll hear me say that “everything will turn out just as it should, everything happens for a reason, everything is meant to be and that there is no such thing as coincidence.” It’s just a reflection of who I am and how I was raised.

Speaking of which, I also came across a Facebook posts today of a dear friend who liked another friends share of a post by, none other than, Keanu Reeves – Keanu Reeves Online. I’m not  one to get caught up on celebrity this and that’s, but it really got me thinking about what he had to say.

“I was raised to show respect. I was taught to knock before I open a door. Say hello when I enter a room. Say please and thank you, and to have respect for my elders. I’d let another person have my seat if they need it. Say ‘yes sir’ and ‘no sir’, and help others when they need me to, not stand on the sidelines and watch. Hold the door for the person behind me, say ‘excuse me’ when it’s needed and to love people for who they are and not for what I can get from them and most importantly, I was also raised to treat people exactly how I would like to be treated by others. It’s called respect. If you were raised in this way then share this on your wall!”   – Keanu Reeves

Keanu goes on to share how we get so caught up in our daily lives, that we forget to enjoy the beauty in life and that “tomorrow isn’t guaranteed! Live for today!”

So, where is this all going? Naturally, it took all of these events in my life to remind me how blessed and fortunate I am, how fortunate we are and how often it goes without being grateful! So here’s a “Heartfelt Thank You” to everyone who has come into our lives. Whether for a brief moment while holding the door walking out of Starbucks, catching a LA Kings game with 18,000 other fans, a night cap at  la maison des Quickies,  a  weekend in Paso, a week long cruise in the Caribbean, or Christmas and New Years celebrations , we all share so many memories that have shaped our lives to exactly where we are  at this very moment!

FullSizeRender_2You’re also probably asking yourself, one, how many glasses of wine have I had, and two, how many glasses of wine have I had? As I sit here in my office with an afternoon cup of Blue Bottle Coffee in my hand, writing this posts, waiting in the online, virtual waiting room to purchase tickets to see Adele live in concert in August at the Staples Center, all the while, calling the box office on my cell, texting my business partner about placing a gift order, responding to an email from our accounting office, and checking in with Keanu [Quick] to see what showing of Star Wars he’s going to see tonight, I’m looking at the time and it’s only 2:45pm. I step away from it all with a smile to see what Luna is up to, grab another cup of coffee, give Quickie a kiss for no reason, turn on all the Christmas lights around the house; the tree, lighted garland on the stairway, the card tree, the Starbucks Advent trees, proceed to turn on the lights in the front yard to be greeted by Kiana (as of this re-post, now 17) who is home from her last day of school for winter break. And again, I am reminded how blessed and fortunate I am – enjoying the beauty in life, enjoying today!

“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you
never know how soon it will be too late.”
RALPH WALDO EMERSON