Chance of a Lifetime

By Sy Jones

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As we pulled onto our property, we noted how the maples and aspens seem to glow with fall color against the deep greens of the sequoias and cedars. Our cabin nestled hidden behind the gentle giants, with just the stairs to the front deck visible and the rock chimney giving an indication of our home. My Partner bought the unfinished structure over 20 years ago at the tender age of 22, and 5 years later he completed construction. For the past 8 years has been our retreat. 
 
It was mid October. The air was cold, the sun beginning to dip behind the mountains.
October is a special time for us. It seems as if life-altering changes occur in this month. October was the month we met and a year later to the date we made our commitment to one another. 

As is our routine, my partner John lit a fire while I put supper together and we settled in for the night. I often find myself in a trance-like state, almost euphoric, as the fire in the fireplace dances and cracks, casting a glow of amber as the light bounces off the wood walls. The howl of the wind gives a hint of an impending storm and sitting next to me is the love of my life. These times I think it doesn't get better than this but you know it does.  We often talked of our dream- to live up here full time.  We enjoy the quiet rural life the mountains offer, and that is double for John, a tall handsome man with amazing blue eyes, a man who personifies  "THE STONG SILENT TYPE". One thing is for sure no one ever has to tell him to "cowboy up".  We had no idea that our conversation and fantasizing of a full time life up here was about to be realized. 

On the next mornings hike down to the village to pick up a few things at the general store and then over to the post office, as we walked through the village we noticed a small Bake Shop was for sale. Without saying anything to one another, we continued our walk. Later that night, I asked John what he thought about the idea of owning the bakeshop. He responded "We've never owned a business and the logical question was, “why is it for sale?”

That seemed a good question, and after an evening of discussion we agreed that it wouldn't hurt to look into it.

 The next morning we spoke to the real-estate agent and met the owner's mother, an older woman whose face told of a hard life. She said her son left the shop for to her to run and now she is too tired and too old to do it. We looked at the financial books. They weren't great but they weren't bad either.

On our way back to our pickup, a lady who owned the local Hardware store stepped out and asked if we were going to buy the bakery. We told her we were thinking about it, "oh good you guys would be great". We smiled and said our thanks. John & I got a good feeling from her. She became our biggest supporter and is now a long time friend.   We went back to our cabin with an unspoken excitement. Our life was about to change.

We talked about my job; I was the Director of a private school on enjoying a three-week leave while John has been looking for work after his employer downsized a month ago. When John asked if I was ok with leaving my job, I knew I would miss the kids and most of the parents. However I wanted and needed a new challenge.  A challenge indeed!

Neither one of us had ever baked professionally-although we are both great cooks. I guess we never doubted our success.   We placed what I considered a low-ball offer and it was accepted within hours.  I wondered what the agent was thinking while filling out the papers. Our address and phone numbers where the same, so it was very clear we lived together. I worried about acceptance, after all this was a rural mountain community.

Well, we did it, we bought the business! We spent the rest of the month moving out of our place in the city and settling here.  We took the month of November to remodel and get rid of the bright yellow and black checkered walls complete with black & yellow happy face drapes. "Yikes!"

Now the bakery had the look of a log cabin, with some help from the wonders of log wall paper that looks so authentic folks are compelled to touch it.  We also added a log table along the front window and gave the place a rustic "you just stepped into grandpa's log cabin" warmth and charm. Our business is appropriately named "The Bear Claw Bakery" with our specialty being, you guessed it, Bear Claws! We opened on December 14th 2002 . 

I am sure there were stories told and comments and doubts. Some we heard. Still, it was important for us to keep our humor and treat everyone with respect. We believe change and acceptance begins with our attitude and us. This has proved to be true in our case time and time again.

This is how we see it: We gave the community a warm and inviting place to come meet and enjoy delicious food. We never told anyone we were gay, not that we were hiding it or felt the need to, just as we do not expect straight folks to inform us they are straight.  We feel that we have gained respect of the community by allowing them to know us, and with that, comes the understanding that we are a couple.

 I'm sure most folks have an understanding that living in a small place, everyone knows everyone and everything! Especially, if you are a public figure like a local merchant.  We also feel strongly that it is of utmost importance to be a good neighbor.  We have made many friends up here, and enjoy the support of so many great people. Last summer the local paper wrote an article about us, it focused on our business as well as our home life. And we have received lots of complements as a result. Maybe we are lucky to live in a place that is as accepting as Pine Mountain .  My father used to tell me "show me who you walk with and Ill show you who you are" and this is how I live my life. Quality is so important and John and I have chosen a quality way of life. 

We had dinner at our favorite Restaurant this New Years Eve and as the host sat us, it seemed as if every one wanted to say hello.  As we got up to leave, folks wished us a Happy New Year and shook our hands. Sometimes it's overwhelming. We get Holiday greeting cards from people we don't know. I'm sure there are folks up here who do not approve of us, as is anywhere you go.   But, one thing is certain. We are enjoying success in our business and stone by stone, the wall of fear continues to fall.