By Terra Avilla
Yesterday, I caught myself complaining about being a chauffeur for my kids’ activities. You know the drill—driving here, dropping off there, picking up, repeat!
But then I thought about my friend Savannah Merchant, and I realized she does everything I do… and then some. The only thing is she does it with a smile on her face.
Savannah is a mom of two girls, and our daughters are even the same age. But where I sometimes feel frazzled, Savannah somehow manages to do it all with a smile. She takes her girls to swim practice four days a week, (at 7:00a.m.!) and never seems to lose her positive attitude.
Savannah and her husband run the Lassen Ale Works on Johnstonville Road. She’s not just a business owner and a mom – she’s also the kind of person who jumps right into whatever her girls are doing.
If her daughters are in a dance class, there’s a good chance Savannah is out there dancing, too. If they’re on stage at Best of Broadway, she’s right there with them. She’s always learning, always growing, and always showing up for her family.
Our friendship grew even closer when her little “mighty warrior” started coming to my women-only class. Savannah is always the last one to leave, rolling out her mat and giving it her all, even when I’m ready to collapse. She’s just a ball of energy and goodness, and I admire her so much.
Savannah has worn a million hats in the time I’ve known her from, volunteer, to paraprofessional, to mother, friend, wife, world traveler, dancer, golfer, college student and the list goes on.
You might miss it though, because like all my favorite people she is just so humble.
Honestly, I could learn a lot from Savannah. She reminds me that it’s possible to juggle all of life’s demands with joy and grace. She’s proof that you can be a great mom, run a business, and still find time to chase your own passions.
So, here’s to Savannah – thank you for inspiring me and everyone around you, just by being yourself. This place wouldn’t be the same without you!
