Blessed are the hungry (and $12 is still a lot of money).

Typical fare at a smorgasbord
buffet-style restaurant

While dining at a smorgasbord-type restaurant recently, I was struck with a realization that sounded internally something like “These are my neighbors.”

The simple people, the type the word “folks” was invented for, and jeans and house frocks and red plaid flannel and other wonderfully comfortable things.

The halting and limping, broken and tired

in the worn burnished yellow lacy Sunday going-out-to-eat blouse

and the one jacket and pair of trousers that go to church and funerals and weddings.

The babies in strollers,

toddlers in high chairs

and little ones with chocolate on their lips and ice cream in their laps.

The hungry, the poor, the sad and meek and merciful and pure and peaceful people

with full stomachs

on $12.

That’s still a lot of money.

[2014-01-08]

c0

This went through a lot of versions.

I have trouble balancing the need for moderation against the simple pleasure most of us take in sitting down to abundance. We overeat when we do that, but there is something wonderfully satisfying about fullness and friendship where spills and tears don’t matter too much.

I am uncomfortable in fancy restaurants. I don’t like them and don’t like the food and attitudes toward food they encourage.

Right or wrong, doesn't matter, that’s me.

After my funeral ya’ll go to Golden Corral or someplace and dip a strawberry in the chocolate fountain for me. Or go to a hoity toity spot and order a well done filet mignon, and when it comes back pink, send it back and tell the chef to get it right this time.

[2014-01-14]

c0