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Once upon a time, I worked for a certain Italian restaurant. 

That job eventually asked me to go on the road to help open more certain Italian restaurants.  So for about two years, I traveled around the country to different cities to do just that.  I spent 16 days in each city living in a hotel.  Most of the time was spent working really long days, but some of the time was spent exploring with other trainers. 

I got to go to lots of neat (and some not-so-neat) places:

Miami, FL

Indianapolis, IN

Joplin, MO

Pueblo, CO

Fargo, ND

Brighton, MI

…to name a few.

I have a million fond memories of my restaurant opening days.  I made incredible friends all over the country, I was challenged, I was exposed to new things, and I learned a lot about myself.  Each place has its own reason for being one of my favorites.

However, one opening stood out above the rest:

Bend, Oregon.

I fell in love with Bend, and with Oregon.  From the moment I stepped off the little airplane I was in love with the air, and the smell, and the beauty of the whole place.  I decided it would be lovely to move to Oregon someday, but if that didn’t happen, I would visit that part of Oregon often.

That trip was in October of 2005. 

I haven’t been back since.

L

but… good news!

Our good friends, Cori and Jase

are getting married here this weekend, which means I get to be on bridesmaid duty and have a mini-vacation with Matt in one of my favorite places.