So Craigley does some research and picks a restaurant
that makes the same ethnic food as my mom. Apparently, this restaurant is
highly rated on most websites. I decided to check it out and found out that we
know the chef/owner. In fact, we were with him when he opened his first
restaurant in 2000. It felt like a wonderful opportunity to renew an
acquaintance that has been neglected for almost 10 years.
When we got there, we found out that the c/o wasn't
there. We were like oh well! Better luck
next time! Then, toward the end of dinner, he shows up at our table. The
c/o spent almost half an hour with us. First of all, he expressed his gratitude
for my parents' help in starting him off 17 years ago. Then he narrated how he
lost everything a few years ago - both his personal and professional lives took
a nose dive! He said that he was advised to not go back to being a c/o; but
that's what keeps him going. So, he restarted from worse than nothing and now,
he has 2 locations that are both doing well!
It was indeed wonderful for the boys to listen to someone
who lost everything and still prevailed. Too often, we give up on the road less
travelled because quite frankly, it is lonely on that road. But as the poem
goes, it makes all the difference when we dare to make that choice.
It was delightful to meet the c/o after many years and he
refused to have us pay for dinner. Of course, I had to let him know that
Craigley almost forgot my birthday and he has to pay one way or the other! So,
Craigley did get to pay for dinner which made him happy. The boys got free ice
cream which made Hans happy. I was just happy to hear another story of grit and
determination winning over adversity.
The only cautionary
note for the boys here is to NOT neglect their personal lives to the extent
that there is no chance for redemption. When they do make their choices,
hopefully they have family and friends on their respective roads with them.
The poem mentioned in this post is The Road Not Taken by
Robert Frost.
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