Signs from Cafe Revò and Beyond

While my days are filled with excitement and anticipation for many things, they are also touched by grief.  Someone I have looked up to and respected for at least the past 15 years has passed away.  He was Sean Goff, the brother-in-law of my long time best friend and the husband of an amazing woman who I long ago adopted as a sister.

Together, Sean and Sofia opened a beautiful restaurant in West Seattle, Cafe Revò.  Inspired by my friends’ ancestral town in northern Italy, the food bears the mark of a talented chef (that would be Sean) who loves the beautiful ingredients that the Pacific NW has to offer.

One of the cute things about Cafe Revò is that at the end of your meal, you get a lovely little card.  On one side is the trademark babe on a Vespa that you can see painted on the side of the restaurant, while on the other side is a proverb in both Italian and English.

Last night as I was getting ready for bed and worrying about everything in life, I moved my purse and picked up some clothes to put away.   Out of the corner of my eye I noticed something that had fallen out of my purse.  I ignored it at first but had a nagging feeling I should see what it was.

There, on the floor, was a little card from Cafe Revò with the Vespa babe smiling up at me.  I thought of Sean and picked up the card to see what the proverb was.  It said, “God gives us chestnuts, but he doesn’t crack them for us.”

I smiled and decided that perhaps it was Sean’s way of giving me a little message of his own.  That I have all of these gifts but it’s my job to use them.  And if I use them, great things will happen.   I closed my eyes and remembered the last time I saw him, in the beautiful restaurant that he and Sofia created, and smiled.

Rest in peace, Sean.  I know you will live on through your beautiful children and Cafe Revò.