I finally remembered Outback Red!
Yesterday Kim and I had the kind of Sunday we used to have more often, it had been a while. It was like a reunion brunch!
We started our Sunday off at Brew then went to Prospect. It was too nice out to be inside!
We always have the best time! I have said it before and I’ll say it again, everyone needs a friend like Kim. She’s sincere, loyal, kind, smart, funny, fun - she’s the whole package! I marvel at the fact that when we sat next to each other in Mrs. Ware’s English class in 1989 we had NO idea we’d be in our early 50’s drinking Prosecco together on a Sunday morning and laughing our asses off in Riverside!
After boozy brunch we took a pause before our part 2 meet up. She tended to her kids while I went for a refreshing swim and read my book.
By the time we met up again around 4p we were both sleepy, but also motivated to enjoy ourselves. We ended up at a German beer hall/speakeasy in Murray Hill - Buchner's Bierhalle - the front looks like a vape shop, and their charcuteries are gorgeous!
It’s a wonderful business with a large, breezy, covered outdoor area. There are rocks on the ground and a big open space in the middle where the children all played, like a sandbox. Lovely vibes all around.
Our waitress was very stylish and reminded us of Audrey Tautou in Amelie! Turns out her dress was Parisian, which made sense.
Her dress also reminded me of a brand I knew well in the 80’s, and no matter how hard I tried to remember the brand… I could not. I googled variations on “brands from the 80’s” over and over again, and read through several long lists containing Tretorn and Izod, Z Cavarrici and Guess. I had a feeling the word “Red” was in the name, and I kept thinking of a hat, but I could not connect the dots.
It’s like the more I tried to remember, the further away the answer got. After racking my brain, and Kim’s brain, over beer cheese and pistachio cake, for close to an hour, I finally gave up on the drive home.
Then, when I was falling asleep last night, it happened! I was not thinking about the clothing brand at all when the answer came to me in my sleep. Outback Red! I woke up and texted Kim, and googled it to confirm!
Earlier in the day I was remembering a concept I know to be true. The harder we push for something, the more we push it away. Whether it’s closing a deal in sales (my professional world), a request of a person (whether it’s professional or personal), trying to remember something (like Outback Red yesterday)… it’s the same. Pushing too hard can push a person/thought/opportunity, away. And pushing takes effort!
It’s ok to take the pause and ask yourself: Am I pushing too hard? Can I take a step back and see what happens next? Trust in life. Trust in yourself. Not saying this is easy, but like everything in life, the more we practice, the easier it gets.
Yesterday was a great reminder - life is easier when we give space, stop pushing, and allow the person/thought/opportunity to step in. Works like magic! Like in this instance, the answer literally came to me in my sleep. Can it get an easier than that?
And I just might go on thredUP and buy an Outback Red dress today! Had no idea this brand still existed, and these dresses are pretty cute!
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