BedandBreakfast.com doesn’t usually do it, but they’re sending a second Best of BedandBreakfast.com award plaque to Sue Westenhaver at the Inn at Harbour Ridge. When we heard her thoughtful story, we thought she deserved it.
Sue’s Mom is in a nursing home, challenged by Parkinson’s disease. Sue’s father is devoted to his wife, taking care of her each day, as she works hard to maintain her dignity in the wake of limited mobility and speech. While Sue grew up on a farm, she bucked the lifestyle, choosing a path less traveled by most farm girls. While she did surrender to learning to cook a few dishes, for the most part she put aside the gardening and cooking lessons for a career in radio and then later in a bank. To further buck the tide, she moved from home, got married then divorced. Yet Sue’s Mom and Dad stuck by her, all the while shaking their heads.
When Sue gave up her safe, corporate bank job to purchase the Inn at Harbour Ridge, Sue’s Mom and Dad shook their heads again, yet continued to stick by her. They wondered how all the cooking and gardening would be accomplished by their daughter who’d never have time to learn the basics from Mom, the master. Little did they know that Sue was wondering the same thing, chagrined that she hadn’t taken the time to learn from her mother, a fabulous cook and accomplished gardener.
Yet, Sue’s farm girl true grit resulted in a resolve that’s contributed to the success of the Inn at Harbour Ridge. So when Sue won a Best of BedandBreakfast.com award this year for her great cooking, she sent her award plaque to her Mom as a gift of thanks. “This one’s for you, Mom!” said Sue, as an expression of her appreciation to both her mother and father for all they did to contribute to her success.
We think Sue’s Mom deserves an award too! Here’s to Sue’s Mom and all the other Moms who’ve created award winning innkeepers!