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Just Some Warm Water and A Morsel of Food

While in Chicago I had the distinct privilege of visiting SugarLocks National Headquarters.  Many of you know that I adamantly support this venue.  Jennifer Cantu, owner and designer is my dear friend and cousin in law.  She occasionally calls on me for Marketing assistance and I can't tell you how much fun it is to put my creativity to use for such precious apparel and accessories.

Grandma and Papa were putting Sophia and Juliet to bed that evening so I was on my own for some girl time.

I walked into the corporate headquarters and there sat Portillo's!  A grilled to perfection chicken sandwich for me complete with the thickest saltiest fries, ice cold lemonade and the world's best kept secret--a slice of chocolate heaven.   Combine this with the presence of her mom and our 84 year old grandma- it was the perfect setting.   3 generations of woman settled around a welcoming wood table and ready to do what we do best.  Talk.  Communicate.  Tell stories.  Each of us of talking over the other, strongly sharing our opinions.

 Jennifer finished a phone conversation and suddenly popped up.  With authority she grabbed her keys and loudly demanded, "Tracy, get in the car!"

What in the world,  I thought.  Why are we leaving the table of news, laughs and advice?

It could only be one thing.  She wanted me alone so she could share the news.

She was pregnant with her 4th child!

Feeling like a failure, I hurriedly grabbed my purse and followed her out to the car.  

My God, how does she do it?  3 children under 5, a wildly successful business and now pregnant AGAIN?

We hopped into the Expedition outfitted with fancy SugarLocks.com font on the windows and sped off.

For once, I sat quietly.  In self reflection, you might say.  How can I do more?  What is my life's passion?  Should I sacrifice sleep in attempt to fit more undetermined activities into my life?

She amazes and motivates me.  Her world is an ever deep pool of new product ideas, positioned grandly.  

Kindly, she interrupts my feelings of self loathe and shares that we are headed to Cabela's to grab some bait for her husband-- who is taking the kids fishing in the morning.  

Apparently her tone and restless exit were due to the store closing in 10 minutes.  We had to get there.  An empty house for a morning could mean countless orders being filled for SugarLocks.  

I have her on such a high pedestal that I immediately assume anything she has to share with me involves lofty accomplishments.

Jennifer is not pregnant.

I relax and regain acceptance of my life.

We enter the store talking over each other a mile a minute.  Again, not hearing a single word of the stories we are sharing, but somehow laughing and enjoying the time.

She barely takes a breathe to order her 3 dozen minnows.  A quick glance at the ostentatious tank reveals that most of the fish have passed.

"Excuse me, sir.  Most of your fish have passed on."

Jennifer interjects with the obvious.  "Tracy, don't you know they are used as bait.  It doesn't matter."

"Yes, mam.  They don't eat."

Well, obviously there is a challenge to solve here and I am all over this one.

"Why don't they eat?"  I snap to the gentleman.

"The water is too cold and it slows down their metabolism" states Ramsey -- shying away from  eye contact.  

This poor high school boy was in for it now.

Try to follow me Ramsey....I talk fast as it is, but now I am really on fire. 

"Logically speaking, wouldn't cold water speed up your metabolism?  Your body is working harder to keep you warm and using more energy....thus you would be hungrier."

"Well, I suppose.  It doesn't really matter because we turn them over in a day."

"You are telling me that you sell this entire aquarium of fish in a single day and then replenish it in the morning."  

"Well, not all of them."

"Ramsey, are you nourishing the fish?"

"I try, but they won't eat."  

If only I had my sister here.  The vegetarian, animal activist would have much less tolerance for this situation than I and most likely, a more attractive debate.

Jennifer stepped back with her mix of live and dead bait as Ramsey lowered his hat over his head.  This all in response to my berating lecture.   Of course I understand that they will die at the mouth of a fish, but don't they deserve at a minimum, a dignified death?  

Ramsey, a pleasant high school boy, just earning some spending money.  I turn on heel, but not before thanking him for trying to feed the fish.  He is not responsible for this.

By the time we pay for our little water creatures, I am feeling better.  I will continue to share my unsolicited opinions where I feel necessary with the hope of encouraging others to question our "status quo."