Some call these events coincidences or synchronicity. Some call them Divine-incidences. Rancho Roble experienced a serendipitous event such as this a little over a week ago. On Sunday, June 30th, I received a phone call from a gentleman wanting to make a reservation for Monday, which as most of you know, is a day we’re closed. He told me there were six in his party and they wanted to visit Rancho as they were only in town for two days. I took a message and told him I'd return his call after I spoke to Kari about it. We rarely get last-minute requests for non-operating days, so I wasn’t sure what to think. An hour later, the gentleman called back again looking for confirmation. With a bit of hesitation, Kari agreed with my decision, and we assured them that someone would be there. I accepted their reservation.
Monday morning arrived, and it was a beautiful morning. As the group arrived, we were warmed by their smiles and instantly felt their kindness and gratitude. While they enjoyed the wine tasting, we were captivated by their young, beautiful souls and wanted to know all about them. They shared that they were in town for the New Kids on the Block Magic Summer Tour and, wait for it, they were Paula Abdul's dancers!
These young dancers shared all about life on tour, their dance careers, friendships, and how much they missed their families. They radiated such positive energy that warmed our hearts. As they spoke about their passion for dance, the hard work, dedication, and the sacrifice it takes to make it big, we felt a deep sense of compassion and empathy.
We talked about how dance and winemaking are similar. Creating the perfect wine is like a dance. Winemakers follow six steps in their art—growing, harvesting, pressing/crushing, fermentation, clarification, and aging/bottling—to transform a simple fruit into a perfect glass of wine. Similarly, dancers spend their days and months preparing for a performance that most audiences simply enjoy without seeing the effort behind it. Both winemaking and performing involve science, art, and a touch of magic. We all have the chance to fulfill our dreams and pursue our passions while bringing joy to others. You can't beat that!
Just when we thought the day couldn't get any better, the dancers offered us four tickets to Tuesday's show at the Marysville Amphitheater, where Paula Abdul and The New Kids on the Block would be performing. It was such a kind gesture as they headed out. Kari excitedly texted our leads, letting us know we were invited to the concert, and the three of us accepted in a heartbeat.
Upon arriving at the venue, we realized we had amazing seats, and our excitement grew even more. As we danced to hits by DJ Jazzy Jeff, I was thrilled to see Paula Abdul and New Kids on the Block. As a young girl, I idolized Paula Abdul, owning all her CDs and performing with a wooden spoon as my microphone. I also had a New Kids on the Block bedspread and a huge crush on Jordan Knight.
When Paula hit the stage, we all went crazy, cheering on our new friends. They killed it! Shortly after Paula's show ended, the experience became even more special. The dancers texted Kari, inviting us backstage. As we waited, our friend Ziga came out and escorted us to their dressing room. We hugged them, praised their performance, and met a few more dancers who couldn't make it to the winery. They all raved about how much they loved Rancho Roble.
While looking for a restroom backstage, my coworker and I re-entered the room to find Paula Abdul talking to Kari. OMG!!! Meeting Paula Abdul was beyond my wildest dreams. Not only was she incredibly beautiful and sweet, but the look on my face in a photo my coworker captured said it all—I was starstruck! We chatted, hugged, and took plenty of pictures with her. Paula, at 62, shared that she still felt great and was doing what she loved most. She said, "It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, what anyone else says, or how old you are; you do what you want until you can't." She's right. We must all find our happy place and live life to the fullest.
As someone who loves to give and support others, I sometimes feel like I just need a win. Sharing these photos on social media, I was amazed by the comments, especially two that stood out:
"When you show up, so does life. That's an awesome experience to share with us all and a reminder that you never know who you are helping."
“It is abundantly clear that God has shown favor towards you. You have always been extremely nice to everybody. Good karma as always, wonderful mentality. Little did you know you'd be paid back for your act of kindness.”
It takes one moment like this—a time when we bless someone else with our time, expecting nothing in return, and are blessed right back with another act of kindness. Let's continue to open our hearts to those around us, build community, and always support and lift each other up. The world needs more acts of kindness.
As I close this story, I'd like to thank Paula, her incredible dancers, New Kids on the Block, the ushers, the Uber drivers, and our Rancho Roble team for making this one of the best nights of my life! My advice to you is that if the Magic Summer Tour is coming to your town or a neighboring city, find a way to get there. It's the spur-of-the-moment experiences that end up being the most memorable. I promise you won't regret it!
I raise a glass to these wonderful people and a wonderful evening that I'm still beaming from.
Cheers, friends!
-Vanessa Bissing
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