It was early 2019, I think. I had walked into the bar at the hotel I was staying in after a long day of work. The idea was to clear out some emails over drinks and then grab dinner at the bar. Except that it was very noisy at the bar that evening.

I packed up my stuff and went to the formal dining restaurant next door – called Seared. The restaurant was empty. As was the bar inside. Except Tom – the bartender.

I sat there and started chatting with Tom. I remember never opening up my laptop to do emails. I spent the whole evening chatting with Tom.

Even today, if I stay in that hotel, every evening, I make a beeline to him and ask him for his special Old Fashioned!!

Janice and I go back to virtually the first time I started staying in the Itasca Westin. I remember the years when she was taking care of her mother and we used to exchange stories of what both our parents were going thru in old age. You might remember the incident where she was instrumental in retrieving my sun glasses that I had left in the JW Marriott in Marco island!

I am going to miss her a lot!

Definitely a big fan of my blog, I will remember Chante for her cheerfulness and her kindness.