My wife’s family just arrived in town as they prepare to set sail on a cruise leaving Fort Lauderdale on Friday. Since we’re not going on the cruise but wanting to see everyone, plus have them all meet our new baby, we agreed on dinner for Thursday night. We decided on a local spot, Buffalo’s Southwestern Grill, since the food is good and it is not too busy during the week.
Immediately when we got there, the parking lot was packed and I chalked it up to the Florida/Oklahoma game taking place later that night. Quickly upon entering the restaurant we saw a sign that read – “Buffalo’s Welcomes Dara Torres”!!
For those of you who are not familiar with her or have heard the name but are unsure as to her accomplishments, Dara Torres is a 5-time(Yes 5!!) Olympic swimmer for the United States. She has competed in the 1984, 1988, 1992, 2000, and 2008 Summer Olymipc games. In these 5 games, she has won a total of 12 medals – 4 Gold, 4 Silver, 4 Bronze!! Extremely impressive stuff… And in the games of 2008, at the age of 41, captured 3 Silver medals.
Dara lives in the next city over from us and was doing a little publicity stop at this restaurant. There were a lot of kids around and it was pretty exciting to watch her interact and spend time speaking with each one of them. By the time I got in line to meet her, the restaurant had emptied out a little, and she was still being very graciuos with every person she encountered.
Here is a picture of Dara Torres, my 2 1/2-year old son Dylan, and me.
And the picture Dara signed for me.