You know, you can live somewhere for years and think you know all you need to know and have seen all there is to see and then one day you see it all with fresh eyes and you realize that life is not as final as it may appear. And by you I mean me. And by somewhere I mean Johnson City.

I’ve gotten a new perspective on how Johnson City looks to an outsider. Well, that’s not true. I was an outsider once myself. But when did I start knowing my way around? When did I stop hearing the accent? When did I understand what the term “hateful” meant? How do you know when you become a thing or a thing becomes you?

We have a visitor. Maria Laura from Ecuador is staying with us for three weeks. Anticipation and excitement filled the house this past week. We all wanted to make her feel at home.

Jeff got some aji sauce and mittens to help keep her warm. Jade hung up some pictures from his wildlife calendar to decorate her room. And I started to think of food places I could take her to that would showcase the local cuisine.

We began the evening at First Friday. Nelson’s was having an art show. The Coffee and Tea Maven was making Mardi Gras coffee.

We were running into people we knew and discussing with them our mutual friends. I knew what to expect at every turn and it all seemed to make sense in a familiar way. Not in a “mom folding your laundry” familiar way, but more like a “mom giving you an at-home haircut” familiar way.

Afterwards we headed to Café Lola for dessert. Now, I highly, highly recommend going to Café Lola for lunch or dinner. The toasted goat cheese salad is amazing and the Chilean Sea Bass will change your life. The heavens will open and you will realize the meaning of all that you are and all that you do. OK, maybe not, but it’s still really good.

Or, if you aren’t in the mood for a divine cosmic experience, at the very least partake in their martini bar. I don’t care who you are, everyone feels cool sitting on that couch.

But by far the desserts are the best part. This is where I would begin Maria Laura’s education. Being that she may never have another visit there, we went with the “let’s order a few desserts so we can all share” technique.

I got the Apple Pear Streusel, Jeff got the Banana Empanada, and Maria Laura got the Chocolate Souffle.

Jeff and Maria Laura got chocolate sauce with theirs. Hot, thick, chocolate sauce with a little extra on the side for finger-licking indulgence.

I would have been jealous, but mine came with ice cream and caramel sauce, which isn’t the same, but just as good.

Over dessert we discussed life, love, family, hopes, dreams, goals, setbacks, who we were, who we are, and who we will become. We heard the stories we’ve told and retold reflected back at us in a new mirror.

We left Lola’s full of dessert. Full of anticipation. Full of life and love and all the things that make us beautiful. From the outside, we looked right at home.

Café Lola is located at 1805 N. Roan St. For more info, call 423-928-LOLA or visit their Web site at www.cafelolabistro.com.

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