I Said Yes

I didn’t know what anyone else thought…but I thought Michael hit it out of the park.

He did maintain eye contact with me…for most of the Eulogy…but a few seconds in he

seemed to find a comfort level and he just began talking to the people. It was as if he

were at the bar just telling Dad Stories. I was sad for him…but very, very proud of

him. He was mobbed after the program and it was over an hour before he tracked me

down. Of course, by then all of us Restaurant folks were full on into serving food and

drink and managing the reception. Every once in awhile I would look up and still be amazed at the numbers of people that were in attendance. It was just a never-ending line at the food tables and we actually had to set up two more temporary serving stations for the wine. For the purpose of telling the story and describing this event suffice it to say it went for hours…all without a hitch…but hours and hours of masses of people. It really did feel more like a celebration…which is what Diane and the kids wanted so success on that front.

It was almost midnight by the time the last of the guests pulled out of the parking lots. Several hours earlier the funeral home staff had taken Dave’s casket back to the funeral home. A private Burial ceremony would take place the next afternoon. All of the foodies and winos…as Diane lovingly called us…were almost done with clearing and clean up. Chef John was out at the fire pit getting it fired up. Chef Rob and Corey were loading the restaurant equipment into Chef’s truck. Chris and Nolan and the winery staff had already taken down all the tables and chairs and had them stacked for pick up. Everything was pretty much done. Diane and the girls were sitting over by the fire pit…all three with a glass of wine and cigars…Michael was over in the production room doing something…20 hours and it was pretty much done. Before long the staff, family and a few friends were sitting around the fire pit laughing and joking, drinking and smoking. The one important person who was absent…Michael…so I went looking…and I found him in the production room busy working on some new labels. (He designed and produced all the artwork for the bottle labels…and he was incredibly talented…did some amazing designs) I knew what he was doing…this was his way of de-stressing…it was his quiet time when he wasn’t in his head…he was focusing on stuff that was important but completely unrelated to what was happening.

I walked up behind him and I knew he heard me but he kept at it. I hugged him from behind and looked over his shoulder at what he was working on. It was an amazing watercolor picture of his dad and Dave’s three dogs. I kissed him on the ear and then backed away a bit just to watch him work.

“Are they all wondering where I am?

“I think they are consumed with other things…it was me that was wondering…but then I knew what you were up to”

“What do you think?”

“It’s incredible…but all your art is and I am not the most objective person with an opinion around here”

“I wanted this done before today”

“Well…you were a bit busy but I get it”

“That’s the point…you get it…and that means a lot to me”

“I know…you should just take whatever time you need or want to work on this”

He sighed…then leaned his head back against me and we just stood there for a few minutes. I was happy to just be there with him…if I can be steady for him then it’s a good thing.

“What do you say we go out with the others…I am sure Diane is wondering…”

“Don’t worry about it…everyone deals with it in their own way and she has plenty of folks keeping her occupied. I do think things are winding down so you might want to make an appearance…I mean…what would people think if there is a fire in the pit and there is no Michael??”

He laughed and turned around, kissed me and then grabbed my hand and we walked out of the building to the pit. For the next hour or so he was immersed in the friends, the wine, the smokes and the laughter. I couldn’t help but tear up a bit when I saw, in spite of his grief, the him laughing and smiling. I even got an approving nod from Diane and a raise of the wine glass too.

When we all realized it was almost 3 am everybody scurried to pick up, grab their things and head out. Michael and I locked up all the buildings and said our good nights to Chris, Nolan, Corey and Chef Rob. We agreed to meet at the diner for breakfast in the morning before Corey and Rob took off. We headed back to Diane’s and crashed. Of course we only had about 3 hours before we had to get moving to meet the guys for breakfast. We showered together, got dressed…had a cup of coffee with Diane and then headed out. She had reminded Michael that the short cemetery service was at 1pm. I wasn’t sure if Michael had expected me to be there…and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go…I mean I would for him…but so much left to do at the winery so I raised the issue and he did not seem to have an opinion either way…I told him about all that needed to be done and his response was basically to leave it up to me…he said that he would be ok and that he really, honestly believed it should be my call so we decided I would go take care of stuff at the winery.

Breakfast with the guys was good. We laughed about some of the silly stuff that happened behind the scenes…stuff other people didn’t catch…and Michael was in good spirits and was truly thankful of the guys help saying so several times. Corey and Chef Rob took off as did Nolan. Chris, Michael and I headed back to the winery to drop me off and I told them to just touch base when they were done at the cemetery and to let me know what was happening after.

I spent the next several hours putting things back together, as best I could, on the lawn and in the tasting room. The rental company came and picked up all of their equipment and Jenny and I stored Chef John’s equipment and re-stocked the wines in the tasting room. Periodically I would check my phone to see if there was any word from the Michael but knew he was going to be consumed with the last of the “events” surrounding Dave’s services. Every once in a while I would catch myself thinking and wondering about where things were headed and then I would stop and figure that was for another time. I really was going to have to take stock of where things, in my life, stood. I had a great job that I loved, I had a nice little spot to live in a perfect part of Seattle…before I met Michael I had figured this was where I was going to be for a long time. I had already had it in my head that the only reason I may leave was to get closer to my elderly parents in California. They were both in their 70’s and, though in decent health, were getting up there in age. So, with all that had taken place in the previous few months, I was finding myself questioning what was in store for me and what decision I had to and would make.