Amazing Doors

DBR... no... ADBR.... huh?  I officially proclaim that the Amazing Doors By Russ company needs to be formed! 

One of my first impressions was that he seemed like a nice "Southern boy"...   He has this sweet twang in his voice.  What I eventually came to learn was that he was from California... Southern California!  Everyone hates Californians, don't they?!  What?  Did I say that?  haha - only jokingly of course - it's just that, there is a stigma that seems to come with being a Californian, right?  Sophistication or Surfer dude...  the different aura he had was apparent, but I wasn't sure exactly why. 

Turns out he grew up as a desert rat... not as a hippie dude surfer or movie star... but in a small military based town near Death Valley.  He grew up as a nice mannered kid with a couple of brothers, lots of friends, fun outdoor activities and interesting, loving parents.  He moved from the lowest, hottest spot in North America to the City of Angels.  When he'd had enough of that, he moved to the Mile High City.  He moved from his small, arid, familiar little town to sprawling freeways and densely populated craziness.  Then he moved from oceans and Disneyland ...  to "God's Country".

I was impressed when he invited me to his home and I pulled up to see a meticulously groomed front yard - shrubs manicured into topiaries, friendly front porch and not a blade of grass out of place.  The interior was equally neat and tidy.  While we were chatting, he offered to make me an omelet.  In doing so he asked me what I might like in it... ham?... onion?... tomatoes?... spinach?!  While we ate, he shared with me some projects he had done and when we were finished eating he showed me around and it was then that I noticed there was jazz playing on some speakers off of the TV...   Shortly after that, I decided to invite him over to check out my place.  During the visit I pointed out a few silly things about the house, the inconsistencies, and I shared the visions and dreams I had for it.  I told him it was my Diamond in the Rough and he seemed to understand what I was saying.  He didn't roll his eyes or exclaim how difficult & expensive my ideas would be to actually accomplish, he simply listened and responded to what I was saying... 

I didn't know at the time that he was a cabinet maker by trade; a man who loves the scent of freshly cut wood.  I didn't know he loves getting his big, sturdy, capable...amazing hands dirty... or that he loves the challenge of solving a problem... without complaining.  Turns out he's a man who is equally consistent & persistent in his actions and his work ethic.  I didn't know then that he was a man who actually stuck to his word and that he meant what he said in the first place.  Apparently TV watching was not his hobby?!  I was delighted to discover he's someone who wants to DO, Build & Create!!  This "Average Joe" is actually everything but! 

He brought conversation back into my life and loves cooking with onion!  He reminded me of the way a man should treat a woman.  He loves the simplicity of holding hands.. and pushing the grocery cart!   My interests, ideas and efforts are interesting to him - and appreciated.  We love to work together ... and play together... as in two people striving for the same goal.  In fact, we actually discuss and have goals we are working on... together - which is wonderful and I can, "like, fer shure", live with that!! 

More about those Amazing Doors By Russ another time...