Life Goes On

The other day I learned that my father had passed away. I didn’t hear it from immediate family and I didn’t even hear about it the day he died. In fact, it was two days later that a distant relative contacted me and told me what had happened. I thought that my sister or my step mom would have contacted me, but that wasn’t how it played out. But that’s not what this article is all about, so to the point.

It was two days after his death that I was told about it. In the meantime, life went on. Since then, life continued. It made me realize that even when someone close passes away, life goes on.

I guess I realized that with all of the celebrities that have passed this year, but they weren’t someone close that I had known. I didn’t know that my dad had passed away, and my life continued on as it did each and every day. I woke up, I worked, I provided transportation to my family and did everything that I did all of the time. Even though my father was gone, I still had life to live.

We all lose someone, but until we don’t wake up one morning, we have a choice to make a difference. We have a choice, each and everyday that have breath in our bodies, to make someone else smile, to make someone else feel good about themselves and to tell someone that we love them or forgive them. The moment that we stop breathing or our heart stops beating for the last time, we loose that opportunity. As long as life goes on, we can make a difference in the lives of others.

Your life is going on. If it wasn’t then you probably wouldn’t be reading this. Take a moment to think of someone else. Take another moment to say a kind word and smile at someone. Change a life one small deed at a time. When that person leaves, you’ll remember that moment for the rest of your life.

Food for the body, Food for the soul.

As most people do, I have my favorites regarding many things. I have my favorite people, my favorite movies, my favorite books, my favorite places to hang out and so on. I’m sure that you know what I’m talking about, because I’m certain that you have your favorites as well. When our favorites overlap with other people, we tend to get new friends. Sometimes, however, discovering new favorites can be hard. It can be difficult to tear ourselves away from the routine and venture out into unknown territories to discover what could become out new “favorite” of something.

A couple of weeks ago I decided that I was in a rut. This is not a good thing. The rut, not the discovery of it. Anyway, I decided that it was time to get out of the rut and start trying new things. I asked friends about new places to eat. I figured that might be a good place to begin and by golly, it didn’t disappoint!

I was given several suggestions, and at first I was resistant to them. Not that I didn’t want to go, but my rut was fairly deep and it was difficult to get out of. I’m a strong and persistent person and finally made it out after speaking with one of my friends in person who asked me if I had tried their suggestion yet. “We have a really goo Sunday Brunch,” he said. “We?” I questioned. “Yeah, I cook there. We’re open on Sundays from 10 - 2. You should stop in and try it. You won’t be disappointed!”

I told him that I would be there and, being a man of my word, I was there.

At first I wasn’t sure what to expect from a place called “The Blind Pig” but after arriving, I was pleasantly surprised. The brunch was incredible! Not only was it a brunch, but it was an all-you-can-eat buffet brunch. The atmosphere was relaxed with a lot of college folks and a few families. The line wasn’t long at all at the buffet and going from station to station was an incredible journey of delight. From the normal scrambled eggs to the breakfast mac-n-cheese to the breakfast lasagna, this place was the epitome of original. I was even determined to try a few things that my brain has told me before, I don’t like. Well, I ate everything that was on my plate (and the plates are really good sized!) and went back for more. There was nothing there that I didn’t find extraordinary. On Saturdays, they have a breakfast menu and during the weekdays they have an incredible menu for dinners. Truly a one-of-a-kind restaurant, you’ll spend a good chunk of time wanting to order everything, as everything looks amazing.

So, if you’re looking for a restaurant with a great atmosphere, fun people, great service and yes folks, if you want there is a full bar for the drinkers among us, then take my advice and that of the amazing chef that I call friend, Gary Rosen, and visit The Blind Pig. You can find it at 214 Linden St. in Fort Collins, or check it out online at http://blindpigfortcollins.com/ to see what they have to offer as well as their hours and menu. I promise that you won’t be disappointed. I know that I wasn’t!