#20 INTRODUCTIONS* (revised 6/10) "discovery and reality"

Sarah Lindsey-Banks had a lot of reading and thinking ahead of her that evening. She had rented a second floor motel room near Nick's place with those same gulf breezes wafting through the curtains. A storm had just passed leaving the air crisp and sweet. She loved the ocean. On weekends she and her husband, John, would drive the 90 miles from Portland to the Pacific beaches of Newport. When first light splashed across the breakers, she would walk the rock jetty that pushed into the sea from the tiny fishing harbor.

That would all have to change.

Sarah opened Nick’s faded brown notebook and thumbed through the pages. Nick, she thought, had left no stone unturned. It was complete record, a master plan of his vision.

But was it? Or was it all outdated in this new world of retailing? As night moved toward dawn, Sarah became convinced that this plan was just as relevant as when Nick penned it. Yes, the change of customers, the style, the presentation needed to be re-worked, but the basic logic was as important today as it was years ago when Nick was on fire with this dream. Finally, as the sun peaked up and across the Gulf water, Sarah closed the notebook tight and set it on the dresser.

Yes, this was the plan.

Now, her thoughts turned to what this all will mean for Sarah Lindsey-Banks. It was possible. Finally, it was this chance to mold her love of gardening into the lessons she learned at Harley and present to the American gardener and homeowner these innovative, exciting outlet for creative imaginations.

John had supported her search and her quest. He encouraged her to find this Nick Hudson and ask the hard questions. But was John prepared to lose a big part of her to this all consuming passion for the years to come? There would be endless hours of travel and meetings and decisions. There will be extreme sadness and frustration followed by rapid bursts of joy..... of accomplishment. Will he be ready? Would she be ready? One thing was for certain; she was going to need Nick Hudson. She was going to need others, too, on this adventure. Sarah showered and dressed for the last conversation with Nick at breakfast. It was time to move forward or move away.