Pre-Meal by Will Guidara

Happy Wednesday!

     I have wanted a Land Rover forever. I mean, come on — Marilyn Monroe posed with one, Clark Gable drove one, and so did Steve McQueen. 

     Not to mention James freaking Bond. 

     A few months ago, I finally got one. This was a big deal, not just because it was a Defender, but because it was mine. I make no secret of my perfectionist tendencies, and the state of our family car — which moonlights as a mobile art studio, storage locker, dune buggy, and snack bar — had started to get to me. 

     I was already thrilled, driving off the lot in my dream car, because 1) it’s the coolest thing I own and 2) it was orderly and meticulous and going to stay that way. But my smile got even bigger when I opened the glove compartment. 

     “Dear Christina,” the card read, “We know this is your husband’s car, but we want to make sure you always feel comfortable in it, too.” My wife loves making friendship bracelets... that note was attached to a small package of embroidery floss. 

     Incredible! Classic Unreasonable Hospitality — a beautifully bespoke gesture, extravagant only in its extreme thoughtfulness. 

     What struck me most about this particular gift, though, was its expansiveness. The people at the Land Rover dealership could easily have stopped at making me feel special; after all, I was the one catching the keys. But they found a unique and personalized way to make my wife feel seen, too. 

     True hospitality always means making room at the table for someone new to pull up a chair. It’s always about widening the circle — about finding ever more ways to spread even more love to more people. That’s what Christina does with her friendship bracelets, and what Land Rover did when they acknowledged her with a wink and a gift that helps her to do it. 

     It’s amazing what happens when you make it a habit to look past the person in front of you (especially if they’re the ones handing you a credit card) to ask, “Who else could I make feel welcome here?” Extend the invitation, slide over, set another place —  and watch as the opportunities for connection multiply.  

Have a good service,

Will