Bright and early the next morning, Sunday, Trisha and I started with a long walk through the vineyards, and I took her over to our new winery facility. This was part exercise and part showing her the tasting room and production areas. As a huge wine fan,...
As I woke up Saturday morning, before I even opened my eyes, I could tell the sun was shining brightly in my bedroom and I could smell coffee. As I stretched my arms above my head and contorted my legs in a big stretch, I heard a woman’s voice. “Good morn...
Since Trisha and I were going out for a nice dinner, and to meet my sons, I figured we’d take “the nice car,” and not the big Suburban I picked her up in at the airport. As we exited the mudroom into the four-car garage I told her we’d be taking the black...
Over the next week and a half Trisha and I spoke every other night getting to know each other in detail and planning her upcoming visit to Oak Valley. I learned that she had two married sons (25 & 27) and two grandchildren, all living in the Santa Barbara...
I woke up just before my 8:00 am alarm. I was surprised I had slept that late. The only thing on my agenda was the ten am brunch with everyone except Marina, Molly, Jovita, Laura, and the four bridesmaids. The girls were spending the day at the resort spa...
After Marina and I rang in the 1994 New Year in San Diego with Allen and Jeanette our focus turned to our wedding. The date of Saturday, April 16th had been selected for months now. Marina, Molly, and Christine had all put in hours upon hours of planning...
And just when I thought December would be a slow period at work, I received a call from my Western Regional Manager, by bosses’ boss. “I heard you’ve been poking around for a transfer. Would you be interested in the San Jose territory?” I was dumbfounded....
In talking with Marina, I knew her parent’s routine. They ate dinner like clockwork at 6:00 pm, so I needed to either call them before dinner or after. I decided that it would be best to call early. Promptly at 5:40 pm I called the Flores. When Molly answ...
The Wedding Weekend: Weeks Three and Four Marina and I had our “off weekend” the following weekend but continued to talk to each other every single night at eight o’clock. We spoke about long-distance dating, me getting back to California, and us eventual...
Tasha returned to Napa the week after graduation as planned and had one week before she and Shane would leave for their six week trip to Europe. Just like every summer, Tash would work in the tasting room and assist in special VIP tours and events. She ha...
