The One With Pat and Donna Finn

Summary

For Love and Chocolate: Episode Summary – "The One With Pat and Donna Finn"

Podcast Information:

• Title: For Love and Chocolate
• Hosts: Tommy and Tara Gallop (Mr. and Mrs. Truffles)
• Episode: The One With Pat and Donna Finn
• Release Date: December 25, 2024

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1. Celebrating Valentine's Week at Beverly Hills ToyShare Chocolates

The episode kicks off with Mr. and Mrs. Truffles reminiscing about their recent Valentine's Week at their Beverly Hills chocolate shop, Beverly Hills ToyShare Chocolates. They describe it as the busiest yet most enjoyable time of the year, highlighting the influx of older couples who have maintained the tradition of gifting Valentine's truffles for decades.

Notable Quotes:

• Mr. Truffles [00:41]: "I think I'm still having a little glow from our Valentine's Day week."
• Mrs. Truffles [01:30]: "There's just something about their relationship, the energy, where it just fits. It's like a puzzle that just fits."

2. Mailbag: Love Advice and the Dead Moose Analogy

The hosts transition to their popular mailbag segment, where listeners' love-related questions are answered. The first question from "L. from M." seeks advice on how to express interest in a coworker. The Truffles offer playful suggestions, emphasizing subtlety and the importance of not being too direct.

Notable Quotes:

• Mr. Truffles [02:48]: "My best advice to you is shorter skirts, more plunging necklines, and at any opportunity, you get to be a little bit extra funny or sweet in front of him."
• Dead Moose Analogy [03:30 - 05:05]: Mr. Truffles introduces a humorous yet insightful analogy about letting the man be the pursuer, comparing unwanted advances to a "dead moose in the doorway."

The second question from "Nervous Nellie" touches on the uncertainties of a long-distance relationship where the partners have never met in person. The hosts discuss the challenges and emotional dynamics of such relationships, recognizing both the emotional connection and the limitations without physical interaction.

Notable Quotes:

• Mrs. Truffles [06:05]: "She might not need the physical. This might be filling her coffers in every way, shape and form, and that's okay."
• Mr. Truffles [07:45]: "It's more a thing of a habit, you know, it's just become habit."

3. Guest Spotlight: Pat and Donna Finn – A Love Story of 40 Years

The core of the episode features Pat and Donna Finn, a beloved couple celebrating four decades of marriage. The hosts delve into their origin story, from how they met in college to their unique proposal and vibrant wedding celebrations.

Notable Quotes:

• Mrs. Truffles [09:23]: "If you're in the room, I get very excited."
• Pat Finn [10:24]: "We met in college at Marquette University in Milwaukee."

a. Meeting in College

Pat and Donna recount their first meeting at Marquette University, facilitated by mutual friends and initial college mishaps, such as laundry room blunders and shared classes with notable personalities like Chris Farley.

Notable Quotes:

• Donna Finn [11:32]: "It was outside Traitor Hall. I was with my old college roommate Susan..."
• Pat Finn [12:02]: "We had this instant bond with comedy and then Donna and all her friends."

b. The Proposal: A Pictionary Surprise

Their engagement story is both humorous and heartfelt. Pat devises a proposal during a game of Pictionary orchestrated by his brother Tommy and sister-in-law Mickey. Amidst playful drawing attempts and competitive banter, Pat surprises Donna by getting down on one knee.

Notable Quotes:

• Pat Finn [19:16]: "I'm trying to draw like a church. And then I put a question mark."
• Mrs. Truffles [21:12]: "What did you say?"

c. The Wedding: A Festive Celebration

Pat and Donna share lively anecdotes from their wedding in Springfield, Illinois, including competitive moments at the reception and memorable interactions with guests, such as trading shoes with friends.

Notable Quotes:

• Pat Finn [22:51]: "It was a great wedding. And it was just so special in that capacity with Donna's friends and family."
• Donna Finn [22:31]: "We were way too... it was like a drunk fest."

d. Honeymoon Adventures and Life Together

The couple narrates their honeymoon mishap of missing a flight to Hawaii and their subsequent adventures, highlighting the resilience and humor that have defined their marriage.

Notable Quotes:

• Donna Finn [27:44]: "We missed the flight to Hawaii. We stayed at O'Hare Airport and passed out."

4. Honeymoon and Beyond: Building a Life Together

Post-wedding, Pat and Donna discuss their continued romantic getaways, anniversary celebrations, and the creative ways Pat commemorates their love, such as building a heart from barnwood pieces marked with their meeting location's coordinates.

Notable Quotes:

• Pat Finn [28:22]: "For our anniversary, I built a heart... stenciled in the exact longitude and latitude where we met."

5. Relationship Advice from a Couple of 40 Years

Pat and Donna offer heartfelt advice to listeners about maintaining a long-lasting relationship. They emphasize friendship, humor, and mutual respect as the cornerstones of their enduring marriage.

Notable Quotes:

• Donna Finn [28:58]: "Be friends first. Humor is huge to me."
• Pat Finn [29:37]: "Find someone who treats you like I treat Mom."

6. Closing Remarks: The Magic of Love Stories

In their concluding remarks, the Truffles reflect on the rich tapestry of love stories shared on their podcast, celebrating the unique journeys of each couple. They express excitement for future episodes and the continuous celebration of love intertwined with their passion for chocolate.

Notable Quotes:

• Mr. Truffles [35:59]: "All you need is love. It's a journey into human experience."
• Mrs. Truffles [36:41]: "It's so fun not only to hear these origin stories told by the couples that experienced it but also to see their reactions to each other."

7. Highlights of the Episode:

• Engaging Love Stories: The detailed recounting of Pat and Donna's 40-year relationship offers listeners a blend of humor, romance, and real-life experiences.
• Heartwarming Advice: Practical and genuine advice rooted in decades of marital bliss provides valuable insights for couples and singles alike.
• Chocolate and Love: The seamless integration of chocolate as a symbol of love underscores the podcast's unique theme, making it both informative and delightful.

8. Final Thoughts

"The One With Pat and Donna Finn" is a testament to enduring love, filled with laughter, memorable moments, and sweet reflections. Pat and Donna's story not only entertains but also inspires listeners to cherish and nurture their own relationships. The episode beautifully encapsulates the essence of "For Love and Chocolate" – celebrating love's many facets with the perfect touch of chocolate-infused sweetness.

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Transcript

[Mrs. Truffles]

From deep in the heart of Beverly Hills, you found for Love and chocolate with Mr. And Mrs. Truffles.

[Mr. Truffles]

Well, welcome back to the podcast. Here we are for our second ever episode.

[Mrs. Truffles]

It's so exciting. I'm so sorry that our listeners can't see you. Cause right now, you look. You dress like a little snow bunny with a little. I feel like you should have a tiara, and you should have just beautiful icicles all around you because, well, I.

[Mr. Truffles]

Think I'm still having a little glow from our Valentine's Day week. Yes, that was Valentine's Week at Beverly Hills. Toy share is, well, let's just say it's the busiest, what, two, three days of our year.

[Mrs. Truffles]

It is. And it's so much fun. It's a lot of work, but it's so much fun because everyone's coming to celebrate love.

[Mr. Truffles]

And, you know, my favorite part is that we have a lot of, like, older customers who come in to buy their Valentine's truffles for their sweetheart. It's usually the husband, and it's a tradition that they've had for 30, 40 years, and they tell us these stories. I'm trying to arrange for some of them to come on the podcast.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah, it's fantastic.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah, it's really so sweet to see what a big part of the love ritual our chocolates play.

[Mrs. Truffles]

But it was a fantastic week. It really was. It's always a celebration. It's always fun. You get an aura from people. People put off. They put off an energy. They put off pheromones. And, you know, we've spent time with couples that just have it going on. There's just something about their relationship, the energy, where it just. It fits. It's like a puzzle that just fits. It matches. I mean, I definitely have that with you. And this next couple, they got it, too. I mean, Pat and Donna Finn have been together 40 years. They met 40 years ago, and they are so much fun to be around. Pat, first of all, one of the most hilarious people I've ever met. He does stand up. He came out of Second City. He's done over 200 TV shows and movies, and he's just hilarious. And then Donna is so wonderful and so warm. It's no wonder they've been so happy all these years. They are coming up next. But first, mailbag. We're here. Let's reach in, shall we? Okay, here we go.

[Mr. Truffles]

Dear Mr. And Mrs. Truffles, there is a guy who works in my same office building. I often see him coming and going and regularly at lunch I find him very interesting. How do I let him know that I'm interested in him? L. From M. Okay, well. L. I would say my best advice to you is shorter skirts, more plunging necklines, and at any opportunity, you get to be a little bit extra funny or sweet in front of him. You know, work it, girl.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah. I think. I think what you need to avoid is being too direct.

[Mr. Truffles]

Don't be too direct.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Don't do it.

[Mr. Truffles]

You gotta let him be the pursuer.

[Mrs. Truffles]

He's gotta chase. He's gotta chase.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And we just. We've seen too many times where the woman was pursuing and it didn't necessarily end well, or it just, you know.

[Mr. Truffles]

It just didn't have the same magic. You know, if there's a really great analogy that my friend shared with me, it's from a dating book that she read years ago. And it's about the dead moose.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yep.

[Mr. Truffles]

Okay, so here's the thing. If a man goes hunting out in the wilderness and he bags a moose, he is going to be so proud of that moose. He is going to hang the antlers on his wall. He's going to photograph himself with this poor dead moose. He's going to make a rug for the hearth. He's going to fill everybody's freezers, hold a cookout for the neighborhood moose burger.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah.

[Mr. Truffles]

It's delicious. And you know, that moose is a real point of pride for him.

[Mrs. Truffles]

It's comfy.

[Mr. Truffles]

It's a real. But if that exact same moose had been crossing the street towards his yard and got hit by a truck and just sort of crawled up and died on his doorstep, you know, he's just going to call animal control to take it away.

[Mrs. Truffles]

He's making that one call.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah. He's not going to hang the antlers.

[Mrs. Truffles]

He's not going to eat moose burgers.

[Mr. Truffles]

No, no, no. And even if he did does do those things, he's not photographing himself with this moose, and he's not bragging about it. You know, he's not making a rug.

[Mrs. Truffles]

No.

[Mr. Truffles]

No.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Poor moose.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah. You don't want to be the dead moose in the doorway, you know, Let him come bag you.

[Mrs. Truffles]

I think there's a song. Dead moose in the doorway. Should we sing a few bars?

[Mr. Truffles]

I'm Ollie or Mr. Truffle. Yeah, I'm all ears.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Mr. Truffles. Dead Moose in a doorway. No, we're not gonna do that. Well, that's. I think the dead moose analogy is pretty spot on.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Mrs. Truffles.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah. Let him do the driving. Let him do the pursuing. And next question.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yes.

[Mr. Truffles]

Dear Mr. And Mrs. Truffles, I have been involved with a wonderful man for years. He is truly the love of my life. However. What? However, we've yet to actually meet in person. Sometimes it makes me a little nervous about the future together, but I can't imagine life without him. What should I do?

[Mrs. Truffles]

Signed.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, that is from Nervous Nellie.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Oh, I bet.

[Mr. Truffles]

Boy, I don't know what to say.

[Mrs. Truffles]

I don't want to touch that one. That makes me nervous. It sounds like they've been together for years. She's never met him in person.

[Mr. Truffles]

I wish I could ask more questions of Nellie.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah, I mean, it's tough because do.

[Mr. Truffles]

They just talk on the phone? Do they just text?

[Mrs. Truffles]

There's obviously an emotional connection that she feels very strongly about. And so, you know, to disengage would probably feel like a death in the family. But to not have that visceral interaction, I mean, it's just. It feels a little bit like fantasy, doesn't it?

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah. I don't know. Like I said, I wish I could ask more questions about the actual nature of what she's getting out of this. And, you know, I think it is kind of like. Like one of my kids had a long distance relationship during the lockdowns. And I feel like being that he was isolated, it was really nice for him to just have this kind of electronic friend at hand, you know, every moment he could just text them, share his feelings, have someone to connect with. That's nice, someone getting you through tough times. I see where that can be very addictive.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Right.

[Mr. Truffles]

But it can't replace.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah. The problem is we're not mental health professionals.

[Mr. Truffles]

I don't think it's necessarily an indication of mental health so much as it's maybe more a thing of a habit, you know, it's just become habit.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah. But also she's not going to be able to meet anyone else as long as that connection is so strong. So it might be what she wants and needs right now. She might not need the physical. This might be filling her coffers in every way, shape and form, and that's okay. It's not for us to judge, but I mean, certainly would not work for me if you were just.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah, Well, I could see why the future with a person you've never met is a little uncertain. And I hope that, you know, you're able to either finally get together or, you know, maybe step back away from this relationship just a little bit, make space for something more tangible.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah, Good advice.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

All right, we'll be right back with Pat and Donna Finn and their story of everlasting love. For over 40 years, toy share has been a staple in the Beverly Hills community. Like so many other families in the community, our family has had a long standing love affair with toyscher Chocolates. Over the years, we formed traditions and memories around these extraordinary Swiss chocolates and the enchanting wonderland of fantasy truffle boxes inside our store. Today, our family is proud to be carrying on the toyshoe tradition in Beverly Hills. Hello, friends, and welcome back to For Love and chocolate. This is Mr. Truffles using his radio voice. Hi, Mrs. Truffles.

[Mr. Truffles]

Hello, Mr. Truffles.

[Mrs. Truffles]

We're so excited. We're always excited, aren't we?

[Mr. Truffles]

We are so excited.

[Mrs. Truffles]

If you're in the room, I get very excited. There's no doubt about that. But our guests today are, well, my dear friend Pat Finn and his wife Donna. Now, Pat and I have known each other for probably close to 30 years. I never really liked him, but he's always made me laugh. And Donna, who is close, clearly his better half. I mean, they've been together longer than the pyramids. I feel like they've been together for a long, long time. Please say hi, friends.

[Pat Finn]

Hi.

[Donna Finn]

Hello.

[Pat Finn]

Yeah, it's great.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Thank you for making the trip over, guys.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah, fantastic.

[Mrs. Truffles]

You know, this is a passion play for us, this podcast. It's really Mrs. Truffles. It was her idea to do this, and it was really. It came out of the fact that in our chocolate shop in the Beverly Hills Toy shore, we have so many couples that come in and they just want to share their origin stories of how they met. We want to hear about how this union.

[Pat Finn]

Do you want to start it?

[Donna Finn]

Well, say anything. We met in college at Marquette University in Milwaukee. Do you know that?

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah.

[Donna Finn]

So I was 19 years old. I am a year older than him. So I was a sophomore and he was a freshman. Rare. And I actually knew his older brother first because he's two years older than me.

[Pat Finn]

Yeah, my older brother Kevin, I'm one of six. My older brother Kevin went there, and I applied so late, which is so me, that I was put in the temporary housing of the sophomore dorm. So I didn't like. So all my friends became sophomores because I didn't know many freshmen. I did after a while, but the people you'd see in the hallways and stuff tended to be sophomores, of which Donna was one and her friends and stuff. But that's also where, you know, Chris Farley lived there And Jim Murphy, who works for Pixar. And so we had this instant bond with comedy and then Donna and all her friends. But it's kind of wild because I literally met my wife at 18 and I played rugby with Chris Farley and we hit it off and that's why I'm doing what I do now. So it's pretty wild.

[Mrs. Truffles]

We talk about the sliding doors all the time. Like any. The seminal moments. He comes in, but he's living with the sophomore boys.

[Pat Finn]

Yes, boys and girls.

[Mrs. Truffles]

What was the meeting? When. How did you meet? What was the moment?

[Donna Finn]

It was outside Traitor Hall. I was with my old. My college roommate Susan, and she was dating Damian and they were friends with Kevin Finn and so her brother. And so we were walking right in front and then Susan said, oh, do you know Kevin Finn's brother Pat? And that's how we met.

[Pat Finn]

Yeah.

[Donna Finn]

And it was. Well, you had a girlfriend.

[Pat Finn]

Well, that's how it works. I mean, welcome to la.

[Donna Finn]

It was Malark.

[Pat Finn]

No, it was. No, I did have a girlfriend, but I knew it wasn't gonna last.

[Donna Finn]

Oh, and he didn't know how to do laundry because his shirt was pink. And so I saw him in the laundry room and I'm like, you don't put a red shirt with white things.

[Pat Finn]

Yeah, my friend Chris McConnell and I did laundry and we thought we were doing well. Cause Chris Farley was next to us with his clothes in a. Like a beer box. And he just emptied it, but they were like half eaten sandwiches. It was like, remember in Jaws when they cut the thing out, license plates come out his hangers? It was like that. And we're like, look at this idiot. And then ours all come out and it's red. And we had to go to rugby tryouts and it was only four freshmen and we're next to each other in red pink socks. It was so bad. It was just like, oh. But we ended up getting at a team.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Marquette's colors were not pink.

[Pat Finn]

No. No kidding. It's not. But yeah, so we.

[Donna Finn]

So I would say when you said first date.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah.

[Donna Finn]

There really wasn't one in college. You were like, I'll see you at the bar later.

[Pat Finn]

Okay.

[Donna Finn]

And then I had all my friends, he had all his, and then we would just meet up at.

[Mr. Truffles]

So when was the first kiss? That's maybe even before the first day.

[Pat Finn]

No, it's a great question. Like I said, we were friends first, which was really cool. And then it just kind of. I don't know if like Sharon or your roommate or somebody Was like, well, you and Donna hit it off or whatever, and just kind of. We slowly started going out, I think.

[Donna Finn]

I guess. I don't remember.

[Pat Finn]

Yeah.

[Donna Finn]

Is that bad?

[Mrs. Truffles]

No.

[Pat Finn]

No. I wish. It was like, oh, the moon landing was on, and there we were.

[Donna Finn]

Oh, and I asked you to Schrader dance.

[Pat Finn]

And we did.

[Donna Finn]

He came. He came. Well, first he showed up and he realized people were bringing flowers and he didn't have any, so he took a flower out of the hotel, like, lobby. And I still have it.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah.

[Pat Finn]

What? Exactly.

[Donna Finn]

It's like a pink fake rose.

[Pat Finn]

No longer allowed to stay there, but still bar. And I had, like, a Michael J. Fox tie. Remember the square ones at the bottom? Knit.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yes.

[Pat Finn]

You couldn't even tie them.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yes.

[Pat Finn]

Weird fabric. Oh, yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

You were wearing.

[Pat Finn]

I didn't know what else to wear. I wasn't the savviest.

[Mrs. Truffles]

You had the Great Santini haircut.

[Pat Finn]

Yeah, I had, like. Well, I forgot my brush for my hair, and so I was like, $4 for a haircut? No. And so I just. I literally turned into, like, Gabe Kaplan with this huge head of curly hair. Oh. And I came home and everyone thought I got a perm. Do you get a perm? Like, yeah, I'm gonna spend $11 on whatever it costs on a permit. But, yeah, it was crazy.

[Donna Finn]

And I still liked him. She did hair and all.

[Mrs. Truffles]

That's. That's love.

[Pat Finn]

When we still have a picture of our first day. Like, the first. It's us near the stage at the dance. We're both sitting down, taking a break. I don't even know who took it, but.

[Mrs. Truffles]

So that was a first date.

[Pat Finn]

Yeah, I guess it would be. It was the Schrader Dance, the dorm dance.

[Donna Finn]

Or if my dad came up and he'd be like, your dad's in town. We should take him to Sasses.

[Pat Finn]

That was a rib joint. That's where they come from.

[Donna Finn]

Dad always took us.

[Pat Finn]

And then it was nice because it'd be, like, you know, Wisconsin. So it's like, negative 20. And so he'd go to drop me off, and then Donna would say, oh, here's his house, the blue one. And I'm like, no. She would kick me. And then I realized she'd give me a look. And I had to get out in the freezing cold and go up to a house that wasn't mine, but it was one of the nicer houses on campus. And, like, kind of, like, give a little wave and turn. They have this. And then when the car left, I had to walk, like, four blocks to the house that I was in, that. To his justice. It was condemned.

[Donna Finn]

So I condemned. They actually had the sign on the.

[Pat Finn]

Door, the big orange sign. No. Dad was like, I am not taking.

[Mrs. Truffles]

My dad to that house.

[Pat Finn]

It's a mixer upper. It's fine. Yes.

[Mr. Truffles]

I'm very talented with all of this kind of fun, kind of finally getting together. When did you know that you were in love? When did you realize that?

[Donna Finn]

Oh, I think because we were friends first. So I think right away.

[Pat Finn]

Yeah.

[Mr. Truffles]

How did the proposal go down?

[Donna Finn]

I would. You can tell a story about when you told your mom that.

[Pat Finn]

Well, it was one of those things. I was just kind of. My parents don't drink. They're wonderful people. Not that somebody who drinks isn't a wonderful person. That came out awful. Like, they don't drink, but they're still okay. But she's. She goes to church every day. She's incredibly saintly, and she. We were. She's a big fan of, like, love and grandchildren and all that stuff.

[Donna Finn]

And I think she was just glad that you followed somebody.

[Pat Finn]

Yeah. And it's like I said, one of six, and I remember I was kind of hungover, and I said, you know, she goes, donna's the best. And I said, yeah, I think I'm gonna. I'm gonna ask you to marry me. And the word someday never came out because of the screech of the car. And she goes, this is wonderful news. Wonderful. I'm gonna call my friend, and we're gonna go shopping for rings and all this stuff. And I'm like, oh, shoot. She was all in on it.

[Donna Finn]

I can thank Betty Finn.

[Pat Finn]

Yeah. I borrowed money from my brother Tommy and paid it off monthly. And then the final third, I painted his house to pay it off when he helped me.

[Mrs. Truffles]

That's romantic. I'm sorry.

[Pat Finn]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

No, he was kidding me.

[Donna Finn]

And then we got engaged at Tommy's house.

[Pat Finn]

We did.

[Donna Finn]

In Indianapolis.

[Pat Finn]

Yep.

[Donna Finn]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Tommy Finn's house.

[Pat Finn]

Yeah.

[Mr. Truffles]

So how did that happen? Tell us the. Were you surprised?

[Donna Finn]

Apparently, I was the only one who didn't know that was coming.

[Pat Finn]

No, most didn't. Tom did. Debbie did.

[Donna Finn]

Tommy and Debbie. Mickey. Henry. Is that it?

[Pat Finn]

Yeah, it's my older sister Mickey and her husband Henry. And then the two of us. And Donna would always be like, oh, I can't wait to ask me to marry me someday. It's going to be so creative. And I'm like, hot air balloon or what he skywrites? I mean, I don't know. And again, I'm awake, and I have the money. So I'm talking to my brother Tommy, and he's like, let's do something down here when you come down. I'm like, ah, sounds great. And I'm like, what about like Pictionary? What if I drew it, you know, and we're not a board game family per se. And so we drive down from Chicago and it was Don and I and my brother in law, Henry, my sister Mickey was flying in. So we get over the border and to grab a burger or something like that. And Henry's like, hey, I'm going next door. I'll be right back. And it's a giant fireworks shop because you can't have them in Illinois. And I look over and he's getting a cart. Like a cart. Not even like a little bag you kind of put under your arm. And he buys. He's just off the shelves. He buys $500 worth of fireworks. And I'm like, wow. Henry knows, like, what a cool thing. So we get down there and the ruse is we're gonna play Pictionary. And Tommy's gonna go, okay, I'll go first. And then Mickey goes second. And then Pat, you go third. I'm like, okay.

[Donna Finn]

And then I said, oh, I can't be partners with Pat. No way. He's horrible drawer. We'll lose. And then Tom goes, no, every spouse or every couple has to be a team. And I should have known then. Cause he was so like, why do you care so weird about it.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah.

[Pat Finn]

But then my sister Mickey was like, why aren't we going to a bar? Why are we cracking a board game out of nowhere? And we're like, oh, that'll be fine. Just play one round. And then the loser has to buy the first pitcher. And she's like, okay, now I'm in. And she's competitive. And so Tommy goes. And she goes, you got the timer and all this stuff. So then I get the thing and I'm like, oh, okay. And I put it away. And Tommy's like, you ready? I'm like, yeah. And he turns the timer and I go up and I'm just shaking and trying to draw like a church. And Donna's going, bank.

[Donna Finn]

I'm like, by the way, we're competitive too.

[Pat Finn]

And then so I'm trying to draw two people, like at the altar of said church. And she's like, somebody cashing a check at the bank. I'm like, it's not a bank. And Mickey's like, you can't talk. Tommy's like, I think he can talk a little bit.

[Mrs. Truffles]

We're okay with that.

[Pat Finn]

And then they think. She's like, it's out of the sand, is out of the hourglass. Tommy knocks it over, and he goes, hold on. I don't think it was at all. He's like, hurry up, Pat. And I'm, like, questioning, oh, and then.

[Donna Finn]

You did a ring. And I go, bag of money. It's a bag of money at the bank. And he goes, it has nothing to do with the bank. And I was like, geez. Okay. And then all of a sudden, he kind of, like, slipped down on the floor. I'm like, what's wrong? Like. And he's on his knee. Did I ever say, oh, you had a question mark.

[Pat Finn]

Yeah. And at the end, you figured it out.

[Donna Finn]

You said, it's a ring. Maybe.

[Pat Finn]

You said, church, altar, Two people at the altar. And then I put a question mark.

[Donna Finn]

And then he sent it. And then I. And I'm like, what are you doing on the ground? Like, what's going on? And then Mickey's ball. She figured it out. And then, you know, every. So it was sweet. I still have that. I still have it.

[Pat Finn]

It's her little picture.

[Mrs. Truffles]

I have to ask this question. What did you say?

[Donna Finn]

I said, yes.

[Mr. Truffles]

Okay.

[Mrs. Truffles]

In the midst of the proposal, you're, like, yelling at her, it's not a bank.

[Donna Finn]

Oh, God.

[Pat Finn]

And then on top of that, then we get up, and all of a sudden, Mickey's like, all right, let's go to the bar. Pat's buying. Because that was the longest one, you know. Meanwhile. Meanwhile, you hear, like, it was like, Iraq. You're like, what's going on? And Henry's out there like, ah, lightning. And I'm like, dude, I gotta tell you, that's really nice to do for proposal. And he goes, I had no idea you were getting pulled. I just love fireworks. I was like, wow, that's bizarrely creepy. So. But yeah, that's how we proposed.

[Donna Finn]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

So good.

[Mr. Truffles]

And the wedding. Did you guys have a big.

[Donna Finn]

That was in Springfield, Illinois.

[Pat Finn]

Yes.

[Donna Finn]

How.

[Mr. Truffles]

How long until you. How long was the engagement?

[Donna Finn]

Okay. Oh, it was short, because I think that was, like, Valentine's ish day around then. And then when we went to Springfield to look at places, it was one of those. You wait a year and a half or something. Opened up September 29th. So my mom's like, I can do it that fast or whatever, so go, Mom. Yeah, it was. Yeah, it was.

[Pat Finn]

It was nice.

[Donna Finn]

We were way too. I mean, we were young, and it was 24. Really like a drunk fest. The party. I mean, to this day, it was.

[Pat Finn]

It was so my dad. But the wedding was insane because they were like, okay, we could do per person for drinks or just like a. It's gonna be this much. We're assuming everyone's gonna have two and a half drinks. My mom was literally, what if somebody's pregnant? She goes, well, that's allocated into the equation.

[Donna Finn]

My mom said, well, what happens if you run out of beer? They're like, we won't run out of beer. And she goes, no, no, no, you don't understand. These are like Marquette kids. Like, yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Wait a second. So how many were at the wedding?

[Donna Finn]

Probably 250.

[Pat Finn]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

250.

[Pat Finn]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And it was a open bar.

[Donna Finn]

Yes.

[Pat Finn]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And they basically figured. And a half beers per person.

[Donna Finn]

Yes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And you.

[Mr. Truffles]

Irish wedding.

[Pat Finn]

They thought, I know.

[Donna Finn]

You said. They were like, hey, the wedding planner go. You know, goes, they're running out of beer. And Pat said, if I were you, I would go get more now before they start doing shots. Because, you know, all the other stuff was left. The vodka. Nobody drank all that back then. But.

[Pat Finn]

And it was also kind of funny because. Not funny, but I'm just gonna say the reception started like 5 or 6, and. Oh, yeah, 10:00 or 10:30. But then everybody kind of beelines to the bar downstairs because that was the night. That was Chris Farley's first night on snl. And my favorite is Chris is like, this is like two months beforehand. Calls me Finnerbs. So they announced this. Oh, I don't know if I can make it. I didn't mean to cuss. Sorry. I don't know if I can make it to wedding. When I think I'm telling Lauren, like, God, maybe I can just go to the show and then leave and then fly in Springfield. I'm like, I don't know if it's direct flights from, like, LaGuardia to Springfield. He's like, should I just tell him no? No. Like, no, do it.

[Donna Finn]

Like.

[Pat Finn]

He's like, but I'm missing you guys wedding. I'm like, I couldn't be happier that you're missing it for this reason. So it was really cool. But that was his first. We all went down to watch.

[Mrs. Truffles]

So that was what year?

[Pat Finn]

1990.

[Donna Finn]

1990.

[Pat Finn]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

September of 90.

[Donna Finn]

So we've been married 33 years.

[Pat Finn]

Yeah. And then we went down to the bar and watched it.

[Donna Finn]

Oh. And they wouldn't let me in.

[Pat Finn]

Then we left and came back to. So like, now, you know, back then.

[Donna Finn]

You didn't change outfits.

[Pat Finn]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Wait, you were in your bar?

[Donna Finn]

So we were in the Hilton.

[Mrs. Truffles]

What do you mean they wouldn't let you in?

[Donna Finn]

They said, oh, because I didn't have an id, right? And my mom was with me. And I said, well, I just got married here. You know, we spent a lot of money here. You know, whatever. We have to see an id. And I'm in my wedding dress. And so then was it me or who said, you better let her in or this will clear out fast?

[Pat Finn]

Yeah, like, we'll take all these people next door. And the manager's like, I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do. I. She doesn't have an id. And I'm like, she's got a. She doesn't have pockets. It wasn't like a Vera Wang with a special. So my Uncle Tony, who's Irish, goes, pat, what's the problem? And I told him the problem. And he goes, all right, bro. Back and literally walks over to the. To the manager at the whole time.

[Donna Finn]

He'S like Tony Soprano.

[Pat Finn]

He is. The whole time. He's got a pinky ring. He's just doing this number, which right there, somebody's got a pinky ring. And they're moving it back and forth. You know, it's just like. I don't know if they're blinding the person or what. But he comes back and he goes, all right, to talk to Nick, manager. He's willing to not card Donna or her mom. I said, I gotta see if Pat says that's okay. I said, yes. Fantastic. It's great. Good. What are your demands? I don't really have any demands. And he goes, yeah, what do you want? You know, he's willing to acquiesce to some needs that you might have. I'm like, I don't know. Everybody gets a free drink. And he goes, all right, Is that it? I'm like, what else would you do? I'm like, yeah, everyone gets a free drink. So he comes down and the guy's, like, sweating. I don't know what my uncle told him, but. So then everyone gets a free drink.

[Donna Finn]

So it was fun.

[Pat Finn]

Yeah, it was. It was a great. It was a great wedding. And it was just so special in that capacity with Donna's friends and family. And. Yeah, it was just. It was just so. I mean, just such a funny. One of Donna's friends from Springfield, her old man's a firefighter, like, in Chicago, and he's from the south side. And we did this bit at his wedding where we traded shoes. Like, we should trade shoes, Bob. Yeah, that's a great idea, Pat. We trade him. He comes up to the dais and he's like, pat, trade shoes. It's your wedding. All right, cool.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Trade it.

[Pat Finn]

And he goes, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Conversely, he got transferred to my parents neighborhood in North Shore of Chicago. And by the way, Bob Bocheck is like, hey, Pat, if we ever get your parents address coming up on a ticker, we're gonna double time it. You just kind of lollygagged everybody else. Like, it was just such a weird, like, give me. Let me play this hand. Then we'll go to the fire.

[Mr. Truffles]

So wait, wait, wait. I want to hear about the honeymoon.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Oh, Jesus.

[Mr. Truffles]

So you must a big surprise.

[Donna Finn]

We missed the flight to Hawaii. Well, first we stayed at O'Hare Airport.

[Pat Finn]

Yeah, yeah.

[Donna Finn]

And passed out and woke up like what, three hours after our flight left. Yeah, we were like, oh, crap.

[Pat Finn]

Yeah. It wasn't even like, oh, just. It's like. No, it's like it's almost there. It's like. Yeah, it's actually. It's on its way back to take the next crew to it, but I borrowed my Uncle Tony's ring so that.

[Donna Finn]

Oh, yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

You guys still find times to have romantic getaways. Does it happen a lot?

[Pat Finn]

We've gone to Mexico.

[Donna Finn]

Yeah, Cabo.

[Pat Finn]

I will say it was kind of cool that we. For our anniversary, we happened to be at Marquette. So we took a picture on the spot where we met, which was cool. And then for that year, I build things, so I built a heart. So it was our 30th anniversary for this one and it was 15 by 15. So it's 30. And then 30 pieces of 200-year-old barnwood from Michigan. And then I stenciled in the exact longitude and latitude where we.

[Donna Finn]

So it's a heart.

[Pat Finn]

What?

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, my God. So romantic.

[Donna Finn]

He does cute things like that.

[Mr. Truffles]

What advice would you give? What is your best advice?

[Donna Finn]

I always say during love, be friends first. I think. And I. Humor is huge to me. And he's like the funniest.

[Pat Finn]

But that's the other thing too, is that I think it wouldn't work if you weren't funny or didn't get it or didn't laugh. Like, you know what I mean? It would be like, oh, that was a zinger. That was a good one. I got nothing on that. I'm questioning things both all in on this.

[Donna Finn]

I always say to my girls, like, don't go out like, looking for a boyfriend or a Future husband. Go out to have fun and that fun will find you. Like, good advice.

[Mrs. Truffles]

That's great.

[Pat Finn]

I mean, it's cliche, but I'm a big, you know, open the door and. And oh yeah. It's a big deal that they're respected and. And I go find someone who treats you like I do or I treat Mom.

[Donna Finn]

We say people are always like, marriage is so hard. And I really don't think our marriage is that hard. It's been a blessing to me. I've had the time of my life and I'm lucky.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah. I think. I think if you're with the right person, marriage isn't hard.

[Donna Finn]

Right.

[Mr. Truffles]

Have something special. Some gifts for you guys.

[Donna Finn]

I love.

[Mr. Truffles]

I think it's gift bag time.

[Donna Finn]

I love gifts.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah, this is.

[Pat Finn]

This.

[Mr. Truffles]

So this is just gonna walk you through.

[Donna Finn]

Wait. Oh, I'm opening it.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Oh, yeah.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes, you get to open it. And look at all the gifts in there.

[Donna Finn]

Okay, cool. I was hoping that you would just pour more in this.

[Mr. Truffles]

That can happen too. Why don't you pop the other bottle? So we are. You get the sparkling resin. So that is some fancy French champagne.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Dang.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes.

[Pat Finn]

That's good for the rest of the.

[Mr. Truffles]

This is a romantic weekend in a bag for you.

[Donna Finn]

Oh, that's so sweet. Okay, let's see.

[Mr. Truffles]

So this is something I personally make. It's my lovin chocolate body butter.

[Donna Finn]

No way.

[Mr. Truffles]

It's all organic food grade quality. Like you could add some sugar to that and eat it and it would be delicious. But it's like 50 cocoa butter. So it's just amazing for your skin. It's jojoba vitamin.

[Donna Finn]

Oh, it smells good.

[Mr. Truffles]

Rose hip oil. Hopefully. It smells like chocolate.

[Donna Finn]

It does.

[Pat Finn]

That's crazy.

[Mr. Truffles]

So that's. Yeah, that's something amazing that I made. And then that's my favorite candle. It's the Trader Joe's Crackling fire candle. So it crackles. No fireplace.

[Donna Finn]

Trader Joe's makes. I should go to this candle. Wait, I can't open it yet.

[Mr. Truffles]

But so romantic. Of all the. All I can.

[Donna Finn]

I'm opening all the gifts. Sorry, Pat.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes. And there's the champagne truffles.

[Donna Finn]

This is from your shop.

[Mr. Truffles]

That is what we're famous for. That is the only truffle in the world named with Dom Perignon champagne.

[Donna Finn]

No way.

[Mr. Truffles]

It's something. A recipe our factory has been making for 75 years. Over 75 years. And we're told it was. The recipe was discovered in a dream. And when you taste it, you'll believe it. And we import Them all. We fly them in from Zurich.

[Pat Finn]

Where's the factory in Zurich?

[Mr. Truffles]

It's just right outside Zurich.

[Pat Finn]

Okay.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah. And. And it's still, to this day, run by Dolph Teusser Jr. Who's in his 80s. All his father's original recipes.

[Pat Finn]

That's so cool.

[Mr. Truffles]

And that's a little bag. It was just some. Some baked goods, some literature. So inside there is a champagne truffle cake.

[Pat Finn]

We're not gonna leave.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, yeah, yeah. Made with Dom Perignon champagne truffle cake and some sweetheart cookies.

[Mrs. Truffles]

That's.

[Pat Finn]

So.

[Mr. Truffles]

I think the reason we get so many love stories, and I mean, I know the reason we have so many love stories come into our shop is because of those truffles. A lot of people use them for their weddings. They're very popular for Valentine's Day and anniversaries. And, you know, even the other day, I had a woman. I'm hoping to have her and her husband on the show on their very first date. He brought her those truffles.

[Pat Finn]

Oh, I love.

[Mr. Truffles]

So it's. Yeah, it's kind of a big deal, and it is what we're famous for.

[Donna Finn]

Well, congrats.

[Mr. Truffles]

And I think that's what lures all the love stories. Yeah.

[Pat Finn]

Well, it's a great little shop connection combo. It's.

[Mrs. Truffles]

It's loving chocolate.

[Pat Finn]

Yeah. Right.

[Mr. Truffles]

Chocolate.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, you guys, thank you so much. Thank you for joining us. What fun to hear your origin story. And just the love that.

[Donna Finn]

It was fun telling it. I forgot.

[Pat Finn]

No, but it is. It's kind of a neat thing because that's what's kind of cool was we're. Yeah, you're telling it, and all of a sudden they can hear it or.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Right.

[Pat Finn]

You know.

[Mr. Truffles]

Well, we love hearing these stories, and we have found that when people are telling us their origin stories, how much fun they have telling it and just kind of reliving all like. Like, that's the most important thing that ever happened to you in your whole life. The most beautiful thing that ever happened is when you fell in love. Like, everything else came from that, your whole lives, you know, it's like such a magical moment. And it's like we love hearing it, and we find that people love telling it, you know, and some people have really remarkable, extraordinary stories. It's. It's kind of fun to get to relive the magic with them for a moment, you know, and you guys have an amazing story. It's so cute and sweet and charming.

[Pat Finn]

And Donna said it.

[Donna Finn]

We're 34 years.

[Pat Finn]

We're really lucky.

[Mrs. Truffles]

All right, you guys.

[Donna Finn]

Well, thank you.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Enjoy your little.

[Pat Finn]

Yeah, I will.

[Donna Finn]

Enjoy your awesome.

[Mrs. Truffles]

This podcast has been brought to you By Beverly Hills ToyShare Chocolates of Switzerland. Beverly Hills Toyshire, at 371 North Camden Drive in Beverly Hills, has been serving up truffles, pralines, dinner, hip fruits, marzipans, and our world famous chocolate bars for over 40 years. So next time you're in Beverly Hills, why don't you come by and visit or shop [e-mail] and we're back.

[Mr. Truffles]

How was that?

[Mrs. Truffles]

And that was more fun than you can shake a stick at. Oh, my God, they are so fun. Honestly, my eyes are still watery from laughing so hard. That's like a freight train of fun.

[Mr. Truffles]

I just love the idea of getting engaged using Pictionary.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Who does that? Pat Finn does that.

[Mr. Truffles]

They are a hoot.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Oh, my God.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, my God. So cute.

[Mrs. Truffles]

They're so perfect together. Oh, yeah. And that is 40 years together.

[Mr. Truffles]

Well, you keep saying 40 years now. She said 34 years married, but they.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Met back in 83.

[Mr. Truffles]

Okay.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah.

[Mr. Truffles]

Wow, that's great.

[Mrs. Truffles]

They've known each other for 40 years. Yeah. And they just. They keep it fresh, they keep it fun. They were a delight. I don't use the word delight often. They were a delight.

[Mr. Truffles]

It's delightful when you use the word delight, though.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Okay, well, I'll use it more then.

[Mr. Truffles]

Thank you. Anyway, yeah, you were right about them. And, you know, it is. It's just. It's such a contrast from the story we heard last week.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Oh, yeah. You know, it's same, just deep love, but just different ways of getting there, Right?

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah. Deep love and different journeys and different dynamics. But, you know, everybody finds their own style, don't they?

[Mrs. Truffles]

Which is what is going to make this podcast with you such an adventure. Because every week it's going to be another couple with another story and another journey, and it's just gonna build on itself. And I think that. I really think that it's gonna resonate with people because, you know, not to be too cliche, but all you need is love, right?

[Mr. Truffles]

All you need is love. It's a journey into human experience, you know, and the depths that human experience can reach. And there's so much focus on breaking tradition these days. There's so much, you know, so many names being thrown around against people who are traditional or abide by traditions. But when we actually get into it and listen to these stories, you know, tradition is very nuanced. It goes in a lot of different directions. It's not a one size fits all tradition. It's not cookie cutter.

[Mrs. Truffles]

No, not at all.

[Mr. Truffles]

There's so much variation, and it's just so. There's so much color and depth to every human being, and every human being has a different story.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And it's so fun not only to hear these origin stories told by the couples that experienced it, but also to see their reactions to each other when they're recounting those stories. Right. It's never always the same. They kind of remember it differently.

[Mr. Truffles]

And that adds, you say tomato, I say tomorrow.

[Mrs. Truffles]

That's right. But we are not calling the whole thing off, baby. We're gonna ride this freight train.

[Mr. Truffles]

Well, I think that's it for love and chocolate today.

[Mrs. Truffles]

I think so, too. Thanks so much for joining us again. Patton, Donna, Finn. What a pleasure to have them. But guess what? We're gonna do it again next week, aren't we?

[Mr. Truffles]

Can't wait to do it again next week.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah. I always love doing it with you, baby. This is for loving chocolate it WITH Mr. AND Mrs. Truffles. This show is brought to you by Beverly Hills toysher Chocolates of Switzerland, home of the world's first and finest champagne truffles. Join us next week for more adventures in everlasting love.