Fall is probably my favorite season, and this was a perfect fall day—it was sunny, but there was a cool, almost chilly, breeze blowing through yellowing trees, an unmistakable sign that summer is over, baby! I wore a pricy blouse that, being an online purchase of an unfamiliar brand, was a bit of a gamble, but not only was it as pretty as its picture on the website, it fit me perfectly. I’d had a good night’s sleep the night before and had woken up that morning refreshed and ready to enjoy my Saturday. I got to Foothill 10 minutes before my reservation, so there was no rush, and I found plenty of spots around the bar when I got there. In sum, I spent a perfect day having lunch with a friend before going back to my office to get caught up on some work.

Except none of the above is completely true. How could it be? Life isn’t a fairy tale! “Perfection” happens only in fairy tales or Hollywood movies. In reality, as lovely as the fall weather was, it didn’t stop me from sweating through my blouse as I walked the 20 minutes to my bus stop. As flawless as that blouse was, I paired it with jeans that made me look fat. As nice as it was to have some time over the weekend to try to get caught up on chores, by the end of the day, I’d only made a small dent in the mountain of work that had piled up on me. And as spacious and comfortable as Foothill was, my lunch there wasn’t perfect.

But that’s okay. Sometimes, “good enough” really is good enough. Why the hell would anyone expect a mid-range priced place like Foothill to be perfect, anyway? Yes, my toast got soggy after a while, but I did enjoy the arugula and the eggs. True, my grapefruit juice could’ve been colder, but it still tasted good. Unreasonable and unrealistic insistence on perfection only leads to regret and discontent. It leads to the deferment of dreams (“I’ll take that trip when I’m in better shape and looking my best”), the deprivation of opportunities (“I’ll apply for that job when I’ve acquired all the skills to succeed at it”) and the defacement of happiness (“I can’t ever be happy with this scar on my chin”). Foothill may not be perfect, but, in its way, it’s the “perfect” place for nearby residents to grab a nice meal with family or friends. I give this restaurant a B grade, and will keep Foothill in mind as a decent, affordable place for a quick bite if I planned to be in the area on a given day in the future. On a far grander scale, my life is never going to be perfect, but if I let go of the myth that it ought to be, then I can truly appreciate the many imperfect, but nevertheless, wonderful, moments it has to offer.