Free to Succeed Tour : San Diego

Yesterday was one of those days when my heart could have exploded, leaving sparks of happiness and residue of contentment against the dark San Diego skyline. Around noon, I took time just for me. I selfishly grabbed my book, left the air-conditioned luxury of the tour bus, and plopped myself on a patch of grass adjacent to the harbor. I sprawled on the grass and read until the sun toasted my skin just past the color of a mocha latte.

JD arrived early and surprised me by taking me one of my favorite restaurants, Extraordinary Desserts. Just the name alone should indicate what a perfect fit we are—ahem, the restaurant and me—and while JD might have protested questioned the midday splurge of crisp sangria, decadent brushetta, paninis, and—of course—dessert, we happily slipped into a food coma. Toward the end of the long meal, I licked my fork of the raspberry and blood orange ricotta cake and simply said, If I died this very second, I’d be happy. He scrunched his eyes in puzzlement, but I explained there, in that moment, I was happy. Oh, so very happy. The thought of my parents on their way to San Diego to hear me speak on the tour, my fingers interlaced with JD’s over the pewter tabletop, the fact that I’m pursuing my dream, and the dessert. Because, really, if it was to be my last day alive, I want to know I didn’t say no to dessert. All these things made my heart explode.

If you were in San Diego last night, I’m quite sure if you looked hard enough, you’d see my sparks of happiness and the residue of contentment against the dark sky.

Last night’s Free to Succeed Tour was totally awesome!! Major props to my SoCal peers for representing and coming out in full force…I LOVED it! Every night, I’m blown away by the fabulous photographers I meet and I’m forever changed in light of their inspiration.

Here are a few images from last night, courtesy of Micah Gilmore…how do I love this guy? I can’t even begin to count the ways. He and his lovely wife Christie are great and leave me feeling all warm and fuzzy.

Hey, Micah, thank you. Thank you for capturing a piece of my heart…my parents. They think you rock, and I'd be hard pressed to disagree! 🙂