Sip #175

By David Freed

How Did a Personal Toast Became a Public Celebration?

We were married in September 1963.  My best man gave us a dinner for 2 at a Carmel restaurant, the French Poodle, for our honeymoon.

For the past 46 years we have returned to the same restaurant each September to celebrate our anniversary. 

Some years ago, our waiter (the owner’s son) took over the chef duties.  We have been ordering the same menu for so long now that the staff knows it.  We sit at the same table and in the same seats.  Richard, the chef and wine master, surprises us with a bottle of red Burgundy to accompany our meal.   Richard is now married to Ann Marie, and they have a daughter who is now in kindergarten, and who played her first soccer game last week.

Half-way through our meal last week-end, I thought how wonderful it would be to honor Richard, Ann Marie, and the staff for their many years of service and dedication to keeping our honeymoon memory alive. 

I asked Ann Marie to see if Richard could spare a moment from his chef’s duties (he never comes out of the kitchen) and come to our table for a toast.  When he arrived, we raised the final vestiges of our red Burgundy, asked for quiet, explaining that we were celebrating 46 years of dining at their restaurant, and asked our fellow diners to join us in a toast to Richard, Ann Marie, and the staff. 

The response was incredible.  As we arose to leave, everyone shook our hands and congratulated us, and many shared their own special memories of dining at the French Poodle.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS FOR SIPPIN’:

1. How do you make precious moments more special in a moment’s urge?

2. How does it feel hearing words of affection and appreciation for you?

3. What impact has thinking “outside the box” had on you?

4.                                                                               (Raise your own question… as you are invited to do in Sippin’ on Top of the World)

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