Mysterious Footprints

When I walked in this morning, there were white footprints the length of the restaurant's green carpet into the main room. What kind of person would leave such a mess?

An hour later as I left the restaurant, I passed the new sports bar they are constructing next door, just as a sheet rocker walked out to his truck.

Friendly Help

At Panera's, two third grade boys sat next to me in an overstuffed chair. The grandparents of one of the boys had brought him and his best friend. They shared with me the best of third grader jokes. Then I told them that my grandson would be six next week and asked what they thought were the best toys.

They said they liked playing the computer game Minecraft. The grandmother suggested they recommend a "real toy" that one could touch. They suggested a few toys--including a Hula Hoop. Eventually they all left the restaurant.

Several minutes later, the boys came back in the restaurant to tell me they had forgotten to tell me about Lego toy kits.

Slide Show

Tonight we were shown a couple of thousand pictures of a trip to Peru and the Galapagos Islands--including at least fifty takes of Blue Footed Boobies and fifty of Frigate Birds. It was a long trip; nice to be home.

Father/Daughter

This morning the sight of a father sitting with his daughter of seven or eight for a breakfast of tea and toasted bagels and cream cheese at a table for two by the restaurant window triggered nostalgia of similar early morning talks long ago with my young daughters--and now young granddaughters.

As I left I overheard him say, "I could hire a consultant who could give you some fashion tips."

Happy Birthday, Darrel

Our friend of some forty years, Darrel, celebrated his birthday yesterday. His wife Marilyn requested that we and other friends send cards with our pictures, and she would bring them to him at his new home: The Aspen House, an Alzheimer care center. She reports he has adapted to the heart wrenching change: He thinks he works there and loves his job.
 
    

We may have faded from your memory, Darrel, but you have not faded from ours--Happy Birthday.

Doctor to Patient

Most every morning, Tom, a university grad student, studies for medical school over coffee and a bagel in the booth next to me. This morning, before he morphed to full study mode, he told me of his "Communicating with Patients" class. The biggest challenge for most of the students is learning how to speak to patients without using vulgar language—habitual words of their youth which heavily color their everyday lingo.

The North Wind

The two entrances to Panera's face north; a big deal this morning as a cold front blows from the north with a chill factor of zero degrees. The door to the main entrance has a two door airlock. The door to the fireplace room where I sit has a single door.

A woman strains against the north wind to pry open the fireplace room door and is blown in with the cold blast. Papers fly from tables and booths.

People with a chill reach for their papers and coats; she walks to the main room to order.