Birth Announcement

We are pleased and proud to announce that we have officially signed the lease and will take possession of the gallery in Monument tomorrow. It will be called Second Street Arts.

We signed the lease on Friday, and I, of course, would periodically get very emotional. In the past twelve years, Doug and I have often done business together, but not officially. We’ve worked on projects together, I’ve helped him with art shows, he’s helped me with book covers. But this is something different entirely.

Ten years ago, Doug and I were in Paso Robles for the annual wine festival. We decided, serendipitously, that Cambria really meant something to us and we would go over and see if we thought Cambria Pines Lodge would be a good place for us to get married.

Driving on Highway 46 over the rolling hills with the panaromic view of the ocean (yes, there are some things I miss about California), Doug out of the blue said, “I think we should open a store in San Luis Obispo. We could sell my watercolors, garden art, music, all the things you love. We could have college students work in the afternoons, evenings and weekends so you could be with the kids [we didn’t yet have any at the time]. You could run the store and I could create art for it.” I closed my eyes and it all sounded like heaven to me. I’ve never forgotten that conversation, and I’ve never let go of the dream to make it a reality.

And here we are. It’s not in San Luis Obispo, it’s in Monument, but otherwise the dream remains the same.

When planning the move to Colorado Springs, having a store was certainly a goal for me. I brought it up constantly, but getting it set up and going was daunting, and the capital required to do it was more daunting. Or vice versa, both may be equally daunting.

I heard about the gallery closing. I brought it up to Doug casually. He heard me but didn’t have much of a response. I drove by on Monday, called the real estate agent listed on their sign, talked to him about the lease a little bit, went home and talked to Doug. Again he heard me but didn’t have much of a response. I called my neighbor and she and I went over to the gallery. I talked to the owner, expressed some interest, and went home and talked to Doug again. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I spent a great deal of time talking to Doug, and doing research, and talking to our accountant, and lawyer, and parents. And with all the stars in perfect alignment, all the ducks in a row, all economic and logical indicators pointing in the right direction, or some force driving us—we agreed to take the leap of faith and do this thing. (See the posts on January 16th—this all is truly amazing.)

Friday as we were walking around the gallery talking to artists, painters, handymen, friends, realtors, former owners and employees, I would look over and catch Doug’s eye. We both had silly grins on our faces, and I would get tears in my eyes. Tears of happiness of course. And pride. I am so proud of my husband. He is wildly creative and talented. This thing we’re doing was his inspiration initially. He saw something in me all those years ago and knew how good of a fit this would be. There is no question that this is outside of his comfort zone. Doug is not a risk-taker, at all. But he believes this is one worth taking, and I am especially proud of him for believing in himself and in me.

The absolute best part is that this is ours. His and mine. And it is something we will do together, each with our individual roles, but relying on one other as sounding board and partner.