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I’m often asked if I miss working at the restaurant. When photos of this legend posing with my going-away-party cardboard cutout get sent, my heart immediately explodes with nostalgia and runs down memory lane. Even more than the work, I miss the people. The team first and foremost, but all the incredible guests too.

📸: @frednorthupjr

George turned eight. We all became secret agents for the day.

Hospitality is transformative. The Welcome Conference is showing us how. A heck of a day.

I’m five days into a road trip across America. Five days of Oregon beaches, roadside wee wee stops, giant redwoods, Willie Nelson, and the smell McDonalds gives off hours after the last french fry has been consumed. And it’s taken the long miles and open road to really begin to process what leaving Canlis feels like.

There is too much to share here (and surely, I did just journal an hour on the subject), but what I can say is this: leaving the restaurant is one thing, but leaving the people is something different and altogether more significant. Chief among them is this guy.

If I had a glass I would toast to you. You’ve been my advocate and partner and friend and co-conspirator. You’ve been the big brother that most little brothers long for. Thank you for celebrating me. For encouraging me. For always doing the hard and right thing no matter the cost. I love you Mark.

(And I love you John Keatley for taking this outlandish photo back in the Kenlis days. It makes me smile every time I see it.)

Our youngest started school today.

When talking this morning she was deciding if she would miss her mom or not miss her, and Shep said “Ingrid, if you miss mom it’s okay. You don’t have to miss her because you have me.”

At the goodbye she looked at Kenz and confidently said “Mom, I won’t miss you.”

The world needs this one.

Our youngest started school today.

When talking this morning she was deciding if she would miss her mom or not miss her, and Shep said “Ingrid, if you miss mom it’s okay. You don’t have to miss her because you have me.”

At the goodbye she looked at Kenz and confidently said “Mom, I won’t miss you.”

The world needs this one.

My brother Mark: “the secret to creativity is courage.”

My brother Mark: “the secret to creativity is courage.”

My brother Mark: “the secret to creativity is courage.”

My brother Mark: “the secret to creativity is courage.”

When dads and their sons attempt plumbing projects.

Spirit Week

Boy and his dog. Photo by Kenz.

Ingrid playing hide and seek

The Welcome Conference was everything we hoped it would be. 1000 people in a room full of connection, education, and inspiration. But my favorite moment may have been when these two ladies (who spend all year planning, and all day in the background) were brought on stage and the entire auditorium rose to their feet. Thank you Maren and Natasha for all your work. To Will for leading it all. And to everyone in attendance for caring so much about our industry and pouring out your lives for others. Thank you thank you thank you.