MY NEW LIFE

It seems strange not having the restaurant but it's great to be able to catch up on my work around the house. It took the girls and I nearly two weeks to get things cleaned up and organized for the auction. The auction went very well. I sold everything, thankfully. It would have taken me years to get rid of everything had I tried to sell it all myself. Rumor has it they will be tearing the building down sometime in July. I am still planning a First Annual Pat's Place reunion in front of the building or on the corner where the building used to be. I hope all our friends and customers stop by to see us. I do miss all of you but it's nice to be getting some sleep!

I am going to start work on the cookbook in June. I am very excited to get started. I have a lot of ideas in my head so I am anxious to get them down on paper.

I attended weddings the last two Saturdays for former employees. It was wonderful to be able to attend instead of spending the day working. All the men in the bridal party at last week's wedding had worked at Pat's Place. There were a lot of former employees in attendance as well. It was loads of fun. It is wonderful to be a part of such an extended family.

I am still looking for your favorite adventures at Pat's Place. I would love to incorporate some of the stories into the cookbook. I wouldn't mind having so many stories that I have to write another book! You can post them here or on the website for Pat's Place.

May the grass grow long on the road to Hell for want of use. Irish proverb

TWO DAYS LEFT

I am getting down to the wire here. I am so grateful for all the love the community has shown us the past few weeks. I have heard so many stories from customers about how Pat's Place has been a part of their lives the past thirty years. I have even heard stories of the grocery store that was here before our time. I love all the history and would love to find a way to record every bit of it to keep it alive. The Show Low Museum is planning a Pat's Place room. They want to incorporate some of the history of Nick's Market and how the building evolved into Pat's Place. It will be very exciting to record some of that history.

The final day, April 13th, I am having a Farewell Wall. For $1 anyone can sign the wall as a farewell gesture. All the money raised plus a matching donation will be donated to the VFW to pay postage to mail packages to our soldiers overseas.

It's off to work now.

The Last Week

This is the last week of Pat's Place. It is bittersweet. Patrick and I will miss the many friends we have made over the years but it will be nice to start new adventures. We have enjoyed the last 30 years but the restaurant business doesn't often leave time to enjoy life. It will be nice to try that for a change. We are planning a Pat's Place reunion on the corner (where our building used to be) before and during the 4th of July parade. We hope to see many of our customers and employees.

I am going to start the cook book as soon as I get past the auction on April 26th. I will post updates here and on my website as the book progresses.

I am very excited to be able to start gardening again. It is a perfect time for new beginnings.