The Man that started it all...

When we moved to California in 2004, we lived in Rancho Santa Margarita. It is an adorable community that is built like a small village. We walked everywhere. It wasn't too long until we discovered a sushi restaurant down the road from us called Sake Sushi. I wasn't in to sushi at the time...but Curtis LOVED it. Slowly, but surely, I gave in. Bite by bite I began to discover the beauty of sushi. I felt like I had been missing out all those years without sushi in my life. It is so delicious, so healthy, and so pure.

We had our staff meetings at this restaurant every week. We ate there as a family 1-2 times a week. We spent Birthdays & Anniversaries there. Haley's first solid food was TOFU that the waitress insisted she try. We became very good friends with Don Lee who was the owner. We even had our own fancy chopsticks that he kept in a cabinet for us when we came. It was like family.

We moved from RSM a year later, and we were so distraught over leaving Don. Interestingly enough, he sold the restaurant a few months later, and started one in Fullerton. We went there too. (Not as often however as it was an hour drive from our home.) Then he opened one in Lake Mission Viejo...which was much closer.

Then we moved again. Now, on special occasions we make it down to see Don and enjoy some of the best sushi one could ever have. Tonight was one of those nights. At the last minute, we decided to drop the kids off at church for 'Parents Night Out'. We didn't want to see a movie, and we didn't know where to go...but suddenly it hit me...I looked at Curtis and said, "Let's go to Don's." We hopped in the car and took off for the 40 minute drive.

When we showed up (it's been almost a year since I've been there.) the sushi chefs asked where the babies were...one guy hadn't seen me since I was pregnant! And Don seemed thrilled to see us. He ordered us drinks, and had the chefs fix up some special rolls for us. Secretly, what thrilled me the most is that it makes Curtis so happy to be in a place where he feels welcomed and accepted. He always wanted to have a restaurant like CHEERS to go to...one where everybody knows your name...We have that at Don's.