Jumping Through Hoops... The rest of the story...

I think the exact words I used with Franz when I asked him to take me out to dinner were, "Can we go someplace quiet... you know, civilized... with wine?"

So Franz, who will be forever after be known as the King of Understatement, took me to El Gaucho... easily one of the nicest, most expensive restaurants in Portland. Possibly the best, period. I was amazed. This is the kind of restaurant that people who have lived here all their lives probably haven't gone to... or only went to on the most special occasion possible. Like when they were going to ask someone to marry them, or something like that. Or when they were had access to a fat expense account. Anyway, when they handed me the menu, Franz stopped me from looking at it and said, "O.K.- there are two rules for tonight... Number one- order anything you want. Number two- don't look at the prices."

With regards to the second rule... please allow me to take this moment to say "Yikes!"

At any rate, the place is lovely. There was a three piece ensemble playing the entire time we were there... two guitarists and a violinist. Franz swears they played a classically styled version on "Enter Sandman" by Metallica as we were leaving. I wouldn't doubt it because they played the theme from The Godfather while we were there, too. So, El Gaucho is a place that has the chops to pull off live musicians, but at the same time still has a sense of humor about itself. Which of course you can afford to have when you are charging $55.00 for a filet mignon and a baked potato. Either that, or the management doesn't listen to what the musicians play. Either way, funny and funky at the same time. Which is always a good combination in my book. :)

The interior is sort of darkened and sedate. My favorite part was the light fixture over our table... it was cobalt blue. The service was wonderful and flexible. And, of course, the food was spectacular... in that off-the-charts-fantastically-good kind of way.

In short, to sum up what happened after my last post, a good time was had by all. And a good, but rough, day got infinitely better. And, it is all thanks to Franz. That boy just has a way of picking you up after a hard day and making you feel alive and young again all at the same time. I get that feeling from him just by the way he hugs me... it's like coming home. And now you know one of the millions of reasons I fell head over heels for him... not because he takes me to expensive restaurants, even though that is nice. It's because he knows how to love me back... I say I had a tough day and he opens up and shows me something brand new to take my mind off it. He is beautiful and bountiful... and not afraid to let me see everything inside him. And I can't express the gratitude I have in my heart for that... for everything that he is.

And while we are on the subject of why I love Franz... I have some other things to say about that. [Just in case you are reading this, Franz... Hi Baby!! Hope you don't embarrass easily. :) ] You know what Franz, as a person, reminds me of? There was this movie I saw once that was set in New York City. This man and woman were walking through the city streets very late at night... as I recall he was trying to convince her to take a chance on love and open up to him. I am pretty sure it was Robert DeNiro and Michelle Phfifer (how the hell do you spell her last name?) Anyway, they were walking and they stopped behind this big cargo van/truck thing. He leaned in to kiss her and the roll up door of the truck was released by the hands of this huge Teamster looking guy behind them. And behind that truck door there was just an absolute riot of colorful flowers... just an overwhelming amount of beauty inside this big cargo-looking truck driven by this big, mean-looking guy. The way the scene changed... it was breathtaking. And I never forgot it.

It is the same thing when you look into Franz's eyes... when you really see him. Anyone with an ounce of "observative-ness" could see it if only they would look. There is just an amazing amount of beauty and generosity and kindness and honesty there. Anyone who really sees him just could not help but love him. I will never understand why some other woman didn't see him before I did. But I am glad that no one else did. I can't imagine having missed out on him.

That's all I have to say about this... sorry for being so mushy. I just felt like sharing. Hope everyone is doing well out there!

Sherry