Pizza and Cigars-A No Reservations Event

A No Reservations Event so the Anthony Bourdain inspired writing

"I'm a big believer in winging it. I'm a big believer that you're never going to find perfect city travel experience or the perfect meal without a constant willingness to experience a bad one. Letting the happy accident happen is what a lot of vacation itineraries miss, I think, and I'm always trying to push people to allow those things to happen rather than stick to some rigid itinerary."-Anthony Bourdain

Through out my life I have been reminded of this. In the first grade going to private school in Chicago I had met the love of my life, Leah Collister. Life was set for me. I would become a titan of industry living on Millionaires row in Chicago, Summer home on Macinac Island, 2.5 kids and a dog. A year or so and a big promotion later my fathers career took us to New York.

Not even close to the plan.

There is an old Yiddish Proverb “We plan, God Laughs” I like that. Life will never entirely turns out like you have planned. You adapt to what is around you. Though it never goes according to plans it can be a hell of a ride. Rather than a Moribund existence of the same things over and over in life. Make it an adventure. I have. Occasional bumps and bruises along the way, but always smiling.

Continuously I have made plans and thought this is where I see my myself. Then life happens.

I am still happy though.

I have learned to live life without the Itinerary. My plan? I don't have one. I've done it and it's worked out fine. I don't have a set criteria of the things I want or need. To paraphrase the quote you're never going to have the perfect partner, the perfect situation, or everything exactly how you want it. Life simply doesn't work that way and it doesn't last so if you can't roll with the twists and turns of life you will have problems.

If you aren't willing to roll with the randomness of life you could miss a lot of happiness in the moments right in front of you.

Plus I am pretty sure I have been long forgotten by that first grade crush I had. Or more likely she's telling her six pack abdomen, highly successful, wealthy husband who she meticulously planned to meet and live a life with, "There was the strangest boy in school. I would walk up and talk to him and he would stare blankly back. I am pretty sure he was (does the air quotes) special."

I seriously hope she is happy though and has had a lots of happy accidents along the way.

I did get better at talking to a pretty woman. Not much better, but better.

I have an event Friday and I am attending one Sunday. So? So when I planned Friday's event Amber hadn't planned Sunday's and unexpectedly I will be in Chattanooga the entire weekend. You wing it and hopefully some cool stuff happens.

The Airbnb is booked for the weekend, but I got nothing Saturday. I am gong to wing it and plan some stuff. Probably a hike earlier too. These places are within walking distance from where I am staying.

First stop? Southside Pizza. A lot of good things have happened over a beer and pizza.

Here they are
Southside Pizza

Then?

"Happiness? A good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." -George Burns

I'm happy with the Meal and the cigar.

Since we are on happiness. After we will walk down to
The Cigar Man Chattanooga

Smoke cigars and what not. Then I can walk back to my room and wait for Sandra Bullock's call. What? It could happen! I mean obviously its a wrong number thing, but still...