Rafael

Some stories have to be told. Rafael was one of the reasons Willi’s Wine Bar was such a special place for us. Yes, it was a charming atmosphere in an old house. Yes they had unique and wonderful food, the best truffle French fries ever and an interesting selection of wines. Yes they had a series of charming outdoor tables and a quirky garden. We made some major life decisions there, we met with realtors there, we took friends there and celebrated special occasions there. But it was Rafeal who made it extra special. He was ‘our’ waiter and even if we weren’t seated at ‘his’ table, he always came over and said hello no matter how long it had been since we had last been there. He was dignified, friendly, efficient and had a beautiful smile.

When we were leaving our house at 3 o'clock in the morning of the fires, Dana told us that Willie's Wine Bar was gone (a word which became shorthand for 'burned to the ground'). We were feeling a bit numb and barely able to comprehend what was going on, surrounded by fire, going out into the hot windy night, but that news brought us to our senses...rather more of or senses than we needed at the moment, for I burst into tears.

We often wondered what was going to happen to Willi's and how Rafael had fared. We heard that all the employees at Willi's had been given jobs at the other Stark's restaurants. The Starks are a two person dynasty. They have started five restaurants in Sonoma County, each with it's own personality, but Willi's was their first and their 'baby' and they took care of their people. We asked around to see if anybody knew where Rafael wound up but nobody did. We all have had a lot on our plates.

This morning I was sitting by myself at Acre coffee, probably commenting on Blipfoto, when there was a tap on my shoulder, and there was Rafael. I bought him some coffee and hijacked him to my table. He is working at Monty's, a Stark restaurant in the same area as Acre. He lived just two blocks from Willi's and fled on foot from the flames, abandoning his car amidst waist high flames when a car ahead of his stopped because of the smoke and running for his life. He's renting a house not far from ours. 

He still has his beautiful smile, but he's having a hard time. I wasn't happy with the picture I got, so I fiddled with it in 'Mobile Monet', but in some ways it captures his fragile state.He has a positive attitude, but longs for things to be 'normal'. He has lost everything. He has trouble sleeping. I told him what is becoming my mantra...'"Live in the moment. Live one day at a time."
 
We'll be having dinner tomorrow night at Monty's. It won't be the same, but it will be a pleasure to see Raffi again.

Today is Martin Luther King's birthday holiday. I'm posting a political cartoon from the newspaper and letting it speak for itself.