Somewhere in a conference room, a committee decided that pets, brides and grooms, horseback riding lessons and children’s clothing all belong in the same Best of Marin category, and I would like to meet those folks, because I have questions.
Well, maybe they’re right. Life covers a lot of ground, and so does this year’s list of local favorites. Families don’t grow in a straight line. They pick up new interests, routines and unexpected detours along the way.
Consider the wedding planner who kept a dozen moving parts from becoming a dozen disasters for my love-struck neighbors and pointed them to a wedding venue where they danced under the stars and the redwoods. Their next adventure is parenthood. Mine is finding the perfect baby gift.
A friend in Mill Valley and her husband spend their free time discussing which of our many fine preschools deserves the presence of their son. It won’t be long before I hear about summer camps and whatever comes next.
Of course, the story doesn’t stop at the nursery door. For many of us, pets are part of the picture too.
I’m not immune to the search for Marin’s best. At my house, we’re focused on finding the tastiest freeze-dried liver treats. If pets could vote in Best of Marin, my chiweenie would take this section very seriously.
Pet parents also have specific needs. Who is the top veterinarian? Where can we find those feather wands for Miss Kitty? And the labradoodle crowd demands to know which groomer does the most fab dog-dos.
Fortunately, I can simply hand everyone the Pacific Sun’s Best of Marin and slowly back away. I can’t thank you enough, dear readers, for doing the legwork and casting your ballots.
From the children’s museum to the dog park, Marin’s Best of Family & Pets is a wide-ranging list, but not a random one. Congratulations to this year’s winners. You’re the ones we count on for the big, the small and the oddly specific.
